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Bend

Bend is the county seat of Deschutes County in Central Oregon.

Understand
The city of Bend, which is nestled between the Cascade Range and the Maury Mountains, is a vacation destination in both summer and winter, known for its year-round offering of outdoor activities.

By plane

 * American Airlines : (Los Angeles and Phoenix)
 * Avelo : (Burbank, Santa Rosa)
 * Alaska Airlines/Horizon: (Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, San Francisco)
 * Delta Connection: (Salt Lake City by Skywest and Seattle by Compass Airlines)
 * United Express: (Los Angeles & San Francisco by Skywest and Denver by GoJet)
 * United Express: (Los Angeles & San Francisco by Skywest and Denver by GoJet)

CoBreeze Bus and other bus companies serving the area also serve the airport in addition to Hawthorne Station in Bend and the Redmond Transit Hub (see below under 'By bus'). The next nearest airport for commercial flights with additional airlines from more places is at Portland International Airport northwest of town, which is also served by Cobreeze bus.

In town, there's a city-owned  for public general aviation use. The airport is northeast of the city center at NE Butler Market Rd & Powell Butte Hwy.

By car
Bend is served by U.S. Routes 20 and 97. From the west, U.S. 20 carries traffic from Santiam Pass and the Willamette Valley, and from Burns and southeastern Oregon. U.S. 97 passes north-south through the city, carrying traffic from Klamath Falls to the south and the Columbia River Gorge and Yakima to the north.

To get to Bend from Portland, you can take U.S. 26 east from Gresham over Mount Hood to Madras where it meets up with U.S. 97 south, and follow U.S. 97 south through Redmond to Bend. Or you can take I-5 south to Albany, then U.S. 20 east through Santiam Pass and Sisters. Either way will take about three hours, not counting rest stops. Both routes cross the Cascade Range and may receive heavy snow during the winter.

By bus
The main bus station for local public transportation and intercity buses is at the on NE 4th & Hawthorne (334 NE Hawthorne). Bus stops for Cascades East Transit are lined up along NE Hawthorne and along NE 4th while the intercity buses pick up at stops 'D' & 'E' along NE 4th, north of Hawthorne towards the alley:
 * Eastern Point goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc. Passengers can connect to Greyhound Lines (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City route) in Ontario. Picks up at the Hawthorne Station ONLY.
 * Eastern Point goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc. Passengers can connect to Greyhound Lines (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City route) in Ontario. Picks up at the Hawthorne Station ONLY.
 * Eastern Point goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc. Passengers can connect to Greyhound Lines (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City route) in Ontario. Picks up at the Hawthorne Station ONLY.
 * Eastern Point goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc. Passengers can connect to Greyhound Lines (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City route) in Ontario. Picks up at the Hawthorne Station ONLY.
 * Eastern Point goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc. Passengers can connect to Greyhound Lines (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City route) in Ontario. Picks up at the Hawthorne Station ONLY.
 * Eastern Point goes across eastern Oregon to Ontario via Brothers, Hamptons, Riley, Buchanan, Burns, Drewser Jct, Harper, Vale, etc. Passengers can connect to Greyhound Lines (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City route) in Ontario. Picks up at the Hawthorne Station ONLY.

Get around
To fully enjoy the city of Bend, your best mode of transportation is the bicycle. Bend has extensive bike paths and lanes and walking paths. When visiting downtown Bend, you can park for free for the first two hours during business hours and unlimited hours after 5PM. Downtown is best explored by foot. Parking can be difficult at times but a spacious parking garage is located at the corner of Bond and Oregon Streets.

Outside of Bend, a car is necessary.

Parks and Natural Attractions

 * Lavabutte3.jpg
 * Lavabutte3.jpg

Whitewater Rafting

 * Whitewater rafting Bend offers some great Whitewater rafting on the Deschutes River.

Mountain Biking

 * Mountain Bike Bend and Central Oregon have hundreds of miles of singletrack perfect for riders of all levels. There are trails for families and beginners and trails for serious mountain bikers wanting to get their ride in. Most of the trails in the Bend area are in the cross country category - great for front and full suspension bikes. The trails are pretty buff with some roots and rocks. There are some steep climbs, but mainly the trails climb for days from town more than 20 miles (32 km) to Mt. Bachelor and beyond. This means there are great routes for downhill and shuttling. Popular trails include Whoops, Funner, Phil's Canyon, Flagline and Mrazek. Progressive, downhill and freeride styles of trail have been built in Bend including the Lair and ODP (Old Dirty Pirate). The Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) maintain the trails and build new ones. Several bike shops in town rent bikes (Hutchs, Pine Mountain Sports, Webcyclery & Sunnyside Sports). Cog Wild Mountain Bike tours also offers tours and shuttles for riders of all levels. Adventure Maps sells great maps of the trails of the Bend area. You can find their maps online or at each bike shop in Bend.

Fishing

 * Go fishing Bend is in the heart of the Cascades, and due to this location Bend is surrounded by numerous Cascade lakes and the well known Deschutes River. Some of the Cascade lakes hold monster trout exceeding 10 lbs, Crane Prairie is one of these lakes, and it is south of Bend near Sun River. The avid fisherman can experience almost everything when fishing around Bend. The lakes hold a variety of species of fish from Trout, Kokanee, Atlantic Salmon, Bass and other fish. While the famous Deshcutes holds an abundance of fish. The Deschutes flows right through the city of Bend. Some of the better fishing can actually be right in front of the Riverhouse right on the Deschutes off of 3rd St. If getting away from the crowds is what you like the Deschutes offers miles and miles of peaceful fishing spots.

Golf

 * Golf There are golf courses in Bend for both high and low handicappers. Bend offers several great golf courses that share amazing scenery. At 3600 feet, the ball always travels higher and longer in Bend!

Buy
There are numerous shopping opportunities in Bend. Downtown Bend has all different kinds of shops from outdoor gear to clothes.

Eat
Bend has a great selection of restaurants located all over town. Downtown has dozens of restaurants on its own to suit anyone's taste, and a short drive, bike, or walk across the river or down to the Old Mill District will turn up even more options. Most of the brewery pubs and tasting rooms offer quality food as well, so check the section for more details.

Drink
Bend is home to some of Oregon's most widely known breweries, including Deschutes, Worthy, and 10Barrel. Each have their own taprooms in the city, but there are certainly options beyond just these.

Breweries
All of the large breweries based in Bend have their own tasting rooms open. Beer lovers are certainly encouraged to have a "flight a night" at each location during their stay in Bend to taste what everyone has to offer.

Resorts
Resorts with onsite activities and amenities are found in and around Bend.

Go next

 * Crater Lake National Park - home of the deepest lake in the United States. 2 hours south by car.
 * In the John Day area about 2.5 hours north east, you can find the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, and the picturesque Painted Hills.
 * Bend is the gateway to the Oregon Outback in the southeastern portion of the state. See Eastern Oregon for more info.

title: Bend


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Bendery

Bendery (Russian: Бендеры; Romanian: Bender or Tighina) is a city in the unrecognized republic of Transnistria, on the west or right bank of the Dniestr River.

Get in
Frequent buses and marshrutkas stop here en route from Chișinău, Căușeni and Tiraspol. Trolley bus 19 from Tiraspol costs ₽1.6, tickets are sold by the conductor. Trains used to run from Bender 2 station to Chișinău, Odesa and even Moscow before the war in Ukraine started.

Get around
You can explore the city easily on foot.

By bus
Easyway journey planner helps to find routes and schedules.

See
The town is pleasant to walk through. You'll notice a fortified Russian checkpoint on the bridge leading across the Dniestr, these are the local peacekeeping forces. Nearby is a monument to "independence" conflict. The bus terminal is a nice example of Soviet bus terminal design.

In the nearby village of Varnita there is a monument in memory of the skirmishes (famous in Swedish history as kalabaliken) during which Charles XII, king of Sweden, was taken prisoner by Turkish forces (1713), after having been in the city as a refugee following the battle of Poltava.

Do

 * The main train station is worth seeing. It has some interesting architecture and the tracks can be explored, as the line has been closed since the conflict in Crimea.
 * To the left of the station (looking towards the front of it) is an old Soviet train which houses a free museum (closed on Sundays).
 * Visit Gorky’s Cinema for its grand Soviet-era building, particularly the main lobby. Opposite in Scuarul Comsomolului Leninist Park is a statue of Lenin.

Eat
There's a nice Uzbek restaurant nearby the bus terminal. The owner also speaks some English. If you are looking for a western style food place then you can visit Andy's Pizza which is in the middle of Bendery one block away from Supermarket Sheriff.

Upstairs inside the Soviet-era bus station, CCCP is a Soviet-style canteen serving surprisingly tasty food for €2-5.

Drink
The local wine represents good value. The quality is higher than the price suggests, it's well worth trying.

Go next

 * Chisinău there are minivan services that run from the Bender main bus station until around 17:30 (as of 2024). You can buy tickets from the ticket office at the station. Minivan services that run from Tiraspol to Chisinău (last service from Tiraspol 19:30 and it takes around 15 min to reach Bender) might also stop by the same place (buy tickets directly from the driver).
 * Chisinău there are minivan services that run from the Bender main bus station until around 17:30 (as of 2024). You can buy tickets from the ticket office at the station. Minivan services that run from Tiraspol to Chisinău (last service from Tiraspol 19:30 and it takes around 15 min to reach Bender) might also stop by the same place (buy tickets directly from the driver).

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

title: Bendery


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Bendigo

Bendigo is a regional city in Victoria, Australia. With a population of about 92,000 it is the 4th largest city in the State. Bendigo is about 140 km (105 miles, 1½ hour's drive) north-north-west of Melbourne.

It is known for its grand Victorian architecture, built during the gold rush of the mid-19th century.

Understand
Bendigo grew to a bustling town after gold was discovered in the area in 1851. The wealth of this period resulted in the construction of many fine public and commercial buildings in the city centre, as well as private homes in the surrounding residential areas.

The population of the Greater Bendigo municipality (which includes much rural area and the nearby towns of Heathcote and Elmore) is over 110,000, as of 2016. Despite this it retains a friendly country atmosphere.

The town has far less rain than Melbourne due to its position to the north of the Great Dividing Range. Summers are hot and dry, up to 40 °C or more on some days. Winters tend to be mild; with lowest temperatures around -5 °C overnight and around 15 °C during the day.

Sheep, cattle, fruit, wine and cereal crops are the most common products of the area. Gold is being discovered again in large quantities at deeper levels in the old mines with new technology.

History
Before European settlement the area was occupied by the clans of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. They were regarded by other tribes as being a superior people, not only because of their rich hunting grounds but because from their area came a greenstone rock for their stone axes. Early Europeans described the Dja Dja Wrung as a strong, physically well-developed people and not belligerent. Nevertheless the early years of European settlement in the Mount Alexander area were bloodied by many clashes between intruder and dispossessed.

Major Mitchell passed through the area in 1836. Following his discovery, the first squatters arrived in 1840 to establish vast sheep runs. Bendigo Creek was part of the Mount Alexander or Ravenswood sheep run.

It is generally acknowledged that Mrs John Kennedy and Mrs Patrick Farrell, wives of workmen on the Ravenswood run, found gold at ‘The Rocks’ - now an identified location that can be visited at the junction of Bendigo Creek and Maple Street.

The first ‘rush’ took place in November 1851 when miners at Castlemaine (Forest Creek) heard of the new discovery. Alluvial gold was found in the area of its first discovery (present day Golden Square) and then the miners followed the gold down the creek to what is now Epsom and up the creek to the present suburb of Kangaroo Flat. Further discoveries were soon made in the tributary creeks at Eaglehawk and Diamond Hill.

As a result of the rush of people to the area, the Gold Commissioner’s Office, the Police Barracks and the courts were erected on Camp Hill, now the present Rosalind Park in central Bendigo. The “diggers”, as the miners were called, numbered as high as thirty thousand and came from all over the world; from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland – along with Germans, Italians, Swiss, French and Americans. The Chinese population reached many thousands in the early gold rush period but their numbers dropped rapidly as the nineteenth century progressed.

Bendigo quickly grew from a “city of tents” to become a substantial city with great public buildings. The first hospital was built in 1853 and the first town plan was developed by 1854. A municipality emerged and the first Town Hall was commissioned in 1859.

Bendigo was connected to Melbourne by telegraph in 1857 and it was from here that the first message reporting the deaths of Burke and Wills was sent in 1861. Frequent Cobb & Co coaches ran to Melbourne until the railway reached Bendigo in 1862.

In the following decade it made the transition from small mining town to large and wealthy city, and becoming established as a key centre for surrounding settlements.

Water supply was always a problem in Bendigo. This was partly solved with a system harnessing the waters of the Coliban River, designed by engineer Joseph Brady. Water first flowed through the viaduct in 1877.

Architect William Charles Vahland left a major mark on Bendigo during this period. He is credited as innovating what was the most popular residential design of the period, low cost cottages with verandahs decorated in iron lace which became a popular style right across Victoria. He transformed the Bendigo Town Hall between 1878 to 1886 into a grand building and designed more than eighty more public and private buildings, including the Alexandra Fountain, the Masonic Temple (now the Capital Theatre) and the Mechanics Institute and School of Mines (now the Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE), 'Fortuna Villa' in Golden Square, (which was the home of 'Quartz King' George Lansell), the Law Courts, former Post Office and the expanded Shamrock Hotel in Pall Mall.

A tram network began in 1890 and was used for public transport.

By car
Bendigo is just over 1½ hours drive north of Melbourne on the Calder Freeway (Highway). The freeway is all dual carriageway.

If you are coming from Sydney, take the Shepparton exit from the Hume Freeway, and then follow the signs from Shepparton to Bendigo.

By plane
While Bendigo does have a small airport, it will likely be much more convenient to fly into Melbourne. From there, hire a car and take the M79 (Calder Freeway) which starts just by the airport. If you do not wish to drive, take the Skybus into Southern Cross Station and get the train to Bendigo. Alternatively take the shuttle direct to Bendigo from the airport. For a cheaper option, catch a 479 to Sunbury Station and get the train to Bendigo.

By train
Bendigo is served by trains which run from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station into Kangaroo Flat Station, serving the south of Bendigo, before heading into Bendigo's main railway station. Some services also continue into Eaglehawk or Epsom in the north, although they are more infrequent. serving northwest Bendigo. These usually run about once an hour. The journey takes approximately two hours from Melbourne. As the route is used by many commuters, trains may be more crowded in the early morning and late afternoon/early evening on weekdays. From the station, most of the CBD is within walking distance. Alternatively buses run into the centre of the city and other parts of Bendigo from the station.

Vline also operates a coach twice daily from Adelaide direct to Bendigo.

Get around
Bendigo has a local urban bus service. The network covers all parts of Bendigo with a standard frequency of one every half hour on a few routes, and one an hour on others. Services on most routes are infrequent in the evenings and on weekends. There is also a tourist hop-on/hop-off tram running up and down the main street.

Parking is metered in most parts of the city centre. Expect to pay about $1 per hour for parking, and to have parking limits of 1–2 hours in the city centre. Because of these restrictions parking is generally easy in the city centre. Parking is free on Saturdays however time limits do apply. You can also find free parking at some shopping centres.

See

 * The tourist information centre is housed in the old post office building on Pall Mall (the main through road) - opposite the Shamrock Hotel. It also has an interesting exhibition of Bendigo Heritage.
 * Rosalind Park is just behind the visitors centre. It has the potential for a river to flow through it, but this usually only happens after rare storms. Otherwise a basic garden with a fountain and a memorial. From the main section of the park it is a short but somewhat steep walk up to the Poppet Head Lookout or to the Bendigo Art Gallery.
 * Bendigo Mosaic and Poppet Head Lookout. At the high point of Rosalind Park, you can climb a look out created from an old mine shaft.  From it there is extensive views over the region.  There is a mosaic of tiles explaining the heritage of Bendigo at the base of the tower.
 * The Easter fair procession is one of the oldest festivals in Victoria. The imperial dragon called Sun Loong takes pride of place each year at the festival needing over 50 strong members of the public to carry it. A variety of other activities take place over the Easter weekend including markets and carnivals.

Do
It is also worth visiting Online Bendigo to see what upcoming events are on prior to your visit.

 * Visit the wineries. Bendigo is the centre of a thriving wine area: the nearby wineries are well worth the visit.  Bendigo Shiraz is generally very full-flavoured and big.

 * Swim at public pools around the city. $3.50 for kids, $4.50 adult, $11.50 family (2 kids, 2 adults). The closest to the city centre is the Bendigo Aquatic Centre which features a water slide, 10-m and 5-m diving platforms, diving boards, an Olympic pool, a kids pool and a baby pool. If you like a cold swim, go to Brennan Park. East Bendigo is usually more than half-filled with lap-lanes. The only indoor pool is at the Peter Krenz Leisure Centre which also features a gym and mini-golf.

Buy

 * There are antique shops and second hand shops on View Street, opposite the Bendigo Art Gallery.
 * Other shopping centres include Strath Village in Strathdale, Centro Lansell in Kangaroo Flat.
 * There are antique shops and second hand shops on View Street, opposite the Bendigo Art Gallery.
 * Other shopping centres include Strath Village in Strathdale, Centro Lansell in Kangaroo Flat.
 * There are antique shops and second hand shops on View Street, opposite the Bendigo Art Gallery.
 * Other shopping centres include Strath Village in Strathdale, Centro Lansell in Kangaroo Flat.

Drink

 * Bendigo Shiraz - some good Bendigo wineries are: Chateau Leamon, Waterwheel, Balgownie, Mandurang Valley, Harcourt, Blackjack, Connor Park. Many other small wineries are in the district.
 * The Rifle Brigade Brewery - located on picturesque View St Bendigo. pumps out some very nice beers and meals too.
 * Wine Bank - in View Street. A great selection of local, Australian and imported wines, in the relaxed atmosphere of an old bank building from the Gold Rush period - ornate ceilings and architectural detail are just part of the experience.

Stay safe
Bendigo is a safe city, although like anywhere it is important to take common sense safety precautions. Beggars and troublemakers in the center of town are mostly harmless but are better left alone. The historic tram can present an unusual hazard on the main road if you are driving.

Go next
Bendigo is an ideal place from which to explore the Goldfields region of Victoria. From Bendigo you can visit neighbouring Castlemaine and Heathcote. The train from Bendigo to Melbourne stops in Castlemaine. It takes approximately 25 minutes to reach Castlemaine by train

title: Bendigo


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Benešov

Benešov is a town in the Czech Republic, notable for nearby Konopiště Castle.

Understand
Konopiště was the residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne). He purchased the castle and took up residence several years prior to his assassination in Sarajevo. Archduke Ferdinand married a woman of Czech nobility (a scandalous affair due to her only being a duchess). Feeling ostracized from the nobility in Vienna, he chose Konopiště as his residence instead.

Get in
The best way to get to town, and then to Konopiště, from Prague is by train. You have to catch a train to Benešov and from there walk 2 km to the castle. To get from the train station to the castle find the yellow tourist trail and follow the markers to the castle. The departing train schedule is posted very clearly in the train station and you may want to review it to choose a departure time prior to heading up to the castle.

See
The, as far as Czech castles go, is not overly impressive. It does have a large tower, a mote with two live bears, extensive gardens as well as a lake. Inside of the castle you can see Archduke Ferdinand's (whose assassination started World War I.) large collection of weapons, guest room, living quarters, etc. all of which are also not too unique. The weapon's and armor collection though is quite impressive. The aspect of the castle that does differentiate it from other castle's in the Czech Republic is that the castle tour will touch on issues that are very much relevant to 20th-century history. The guide will go into some detail about the mysterious death of Crown Prince Rudolph, information about the assassination and the relevance of these events to the decline of the Austro-Hungarian empire in the early 20th century. For those interested 20th-century European history, the castle is definitely worth a visit.

There are three tours of the castle:

Cost: 140 Kč for tours in foreign languages
 * Basic -
 * Section II - A tour of Ferdinand's living quarters, guest area, 'harem' gifted to him by the Turkish Sultan, his arms collection and a modern 'elevator.'

Cost: 250 Kč for tours in foreign languages
 * Section III (extensive tour) - no information available

The castle is open from 09:00 to 17:00 during the summer. During the off-season it is open during most of the day (with varying hours by month) except for the months of January and February, during which time the castle is closed.

Buy

 * Beautiful small toy and gift shop in the centre of Benesov city.

title: Benešov


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Benelux

Benelux is an economic union comprising three neighbouring monarchies: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name. It was a precursor of the European Union.

The region is more traditionally known in English as the Low Countries because they are all part of a plain near the North Sea, and parts of the Netherlands are so low as to actually be below sea-level, requiring dykes to keep the sea water out. The three countries share a number of commonalities, starting from their topography and climates, which in turn influenced their cultures and economies, from the fish-and-potatoes nature of the cuisine to the famous renaissance art. But this has also traditionally been a land divided: with the Netherlands being a majority-Protestant country, while Belgium and Luxembourg were Catholic; as well the Netherlands and the northern half of Belgium (Flanders) are Dutch-speaking, while southern Belgium is French-speaking. Yet, all being small countries wedged between the massive and nationalistic states of France and Germany, they have shared a similar tragic modern history of invasion and occupation. This shared history galvanized the countries to become major founders and joiners of international organisations in the post-war era in the hope of ending the threat of invasion. Nowadays, thanks to their reputation as honest brokers and their "neutral location" between France and Germany, these countries are the home to numerous international institutions, almost like a giant "capital district" for all of Europe. Examples include the international court in the Hague or the EU headquarters shared between Brussels and Luxembourg City. With all this international attention, these countries have developed some of the best-developed travel infrastructure in the world, including efficient airports, extensive rail networks, and a full range of hotels and restaurants from cheap and cheerful to chic and elegant. This is a perfect gateway into Continental Europe for those taking their first steps. Everything is relatively safe and easy to navigate, and many people speak passable English. Distances between cities are small, and those cities are compact and walkable.

Cities

 * — traveller magnet due to its impressive architecture, lovely canals (grachten), museums and liberal attitudes
 * — a giant cathedral, medieval streets, artistic heritage, and the second-largest port of Europe, coined the Diamond of the Sea
 * — unofficial capital of the EU with a nice historic centre and several museums
 * — one of Europe's wealthiest cities in the 14th century, its large and beautiful historic centre remains intact; a romantic city with pre-Renaissance walls
 * — largest city of Wallonia (the French part of Belgium), along a wide river, industrial cityscape with hiking and resorts in the nearby hills
 * — its spectacular valleys and plateaus led it to be nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the North"
 * — modern architecture, good nightlife and the largest port of Europe, Rotterdam is a hub of excitement
 * — seat of government, royal family, judicial capital of the world and Madurodam
 * — historic centre, nice antique stores and the Rietveld-Schröder House are all in this magnificent Dutch city

Other destinations

 * — The most sparsely populated in Benelux, this is a hilly countryside region covered with forests.
 * — For three days in February, the town is transported back to the 16th century for one of the most fantastic carnival festivals.
 * — Largest national park with heathlands, sand dunes and woodlands.
 * — Millions of tourists visit the tulip fields each Spring.
 * — These windmills show the typical Dutch landscape in all its glory.
 * — An area of green fields and small villages, some of which have been portrayed by artists such as Pieter Bruegel.
 * — Old island evacuated in 1859, a well-preserved ghost village remains.
 * — Quaint small town presided over by a rather splendid château.
 * — The Waterloo Battlefield where Napoleon lost the final battle that changed Europe's face forever.

Understand
Luxembourg and the East of Belgium are a hilly area, but the rest of the Benelux is what is known as the Low Countries; this is the delta of the rivers Scheldt, Meuse, Rhine and Ems that used to be swamp land. Enterprising fishermen discovered a flair for trade when trading routes started to emerge between the grain markets of the Baltic Sea and the renaissance-bitten luxury goods markets of northern Italy. Here is where stocks were invented. Trade in all kinds of goods as well as enslaved humans made a small elite incredibly rich and the Dutch East India Company (VOC for its Dutch name) became one of the first multinational stock based companies and in its heyday controlled entire countries.

This attention to trade made Bruges one of the largest cities in Europe in its day, and the medieval old town is still well preserved. When the secession war with Spain progressed, French and Flemish alike fled to Amsterdam, which became the new world capital of trade, which is still witnessed in the many 'Houses of the Lords' lining the famous canals.

Talk
Dutch is the main language in the Netherlands and in the north of Belgium (Flanders) where it is also known as Flemish, and is also one of the two official languages of Brussels, spoken by about 15% of its inhabitants. French is the main language (85%) in Brussels, and in all of the South of Belgium (Wallonia) with the exception of the eastern side of Wallonia where you will find the Belgian German speaking community. In Belgium, while most Dutch speakers can speak reasonable French, few Belgian francophones speak Dutch, which has caused political tension in the country. Luxembourg has three official languages: Luxembourgish, French and German, but for all practical purposes French is the most important language for travelers.

Many people, especially in the Netherlands and Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, have a very high proficiency of English, and younger people often have near native fluency. This is because foreign television content is aired in its original language, with subtitles. On the other hand, in French-speaking Wallonia, TV is dubbed into French and people hence do not speak English so well. Frisian is a minority language spoken in Friesland (Netherlands).

As Dutch is very close to German, you will be understood with difficulty by most Dutch speakers if you speak German, but not all of them will necessarily speak more than a handful of German phrases themselves.

By plane
Most people get into the Benelux region by plane or train. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and Zaventem Airport in Brussels are the largest airports in the region; Schiphol is also important as a transfer airport for further destinations in Europe. Smaller airports are present in Antwerp, Eindhoven, Groningen, Luxembourg, Maastricht, Charleroi ("Brussels South"), Liège and Rotterdam, which are mostly used by no-frills airlines.

By train
High-speed rail networks connect the Benelux with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (through the Channel Tunnel). High-speed trains operated by Thalys connect Paris with Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in a little more than three hours. High-speed (and slower intercity) ICE International trains operated by Deutsche Bahn (and Nederlandse Spoorwegen) connect Frankfurt (and Cologne) with Amsterdam and Brussels, and Basel with Amsterdam. High-speed trains operated by Eurostar connect London with Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

By bus
The major companies running Intercity buses in Germany all serve stations in the Benelux as well. France liberalized its long distance bus market in 2015, and connections to major cities in the Benelux have either been announced or are planned. Some buses even take you to London, either through the Channel Tunnel or by being loaded on a car ferry.

Get around
As this is a densely populated area in Europe you usually have the choice of several modes of transport and getting around should be a breeze, if sometimes a bit hard on the wallet.

By train
All major towns (and many minor ones) are connected to the rail network. Belgium alone has four high-speed rail lines, though they mostly serve trains coming from or going to other countries. Within the region trains are reasonably fast, cheap (in Belgium keeping rail travel affordable is officially stated public policy and their per passenger km subsidy is the highest in Europe) and have frequencies of once an hour or more often. All three rail companies (including the tiny CFL of Luxembourg) serve international routes. The Beligan railways website is available in several languages and local varieties, including for the US and most European countries. Public transport in the Netherlands can be planned utilizing the public transport journey planner 9292.nl. Train tickets for the national railway service are cheapest when bought online, through their app or by using the countrywide public transport smartcard.

By bus
Flixbus runs domestic buses in the Netherlands.

By car
All countries in the Benelux have a reasonably dense highway network. There is a default speed limit of 130 km/h in the Netherlands and Luxembourg and of 120 km/h in Belgium. As is prescribed by law those speed limits will be shown in a standardised form on every road entrance to the country in question.

By bike
The Netherlands - and to a lesser extent Belgium and Luxembourg - are positively bike crazy. There are more bikes than people and every city of any size has a decent or excellent network of bike routes that is patronized by locals of all ages shapes and socioeconomic classes. The only caveat when it comes to cycling is the fact that bikes may be stolen in bigger cities. Intercity cycling is less common but still possible, due to the flat nature of most of the terrain.

See
Much of the swamp land in the Low Countries has been reclaimed, resulting in some of the largest water works in the world, such as the Delta Works, and in other attractions such as the windmills of Kinderdijk in South Holland. Much has not been reclaimed, resulting in interesting biotopes, such as the Zwin on the North Sea Coast of Belgium and the area around the Wadden Sea in the North of the Netherlands.

 * Look at some of the region's historic cities, including Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bruges, Delft, Ghent, and Maastricht
 * Brussels is the so-called capital of the European Union; take a wander through the European Quarter with its modern architecture
 * The Netherlands has a bewildering amount of art museums—at least chip in the Museum Quarter in Amsterdam
 * Cheese markets are a big thing in Holland—Alkmaar, Edam, and Gouda have them
 * More Dutch stereotypes are to be found elsewhere; windmills in Zaanse Schans, tulips in the Keukenhof, and flat polders in the Green Heart
 * Flanders has many beguinages and belfries—a total of 46 have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * The Delta Works, one of the most technologically advanced projects in the world, give an insight in the Dutch' centuries-long battle against the sea
 * So, what to see in Luxembourg? Try its capital of the same name, with a splendid location high on a cliff, or Vianden, a tourist favourite with its stunning mediaeval Beaufort Castle.

Do

 * You will find white-water canoeing in Luxembourg and the East of Belgium.
 * There are some excellent golf courses in Luxembourg and the East of Belgium.
 * Rent a bike and explore Amsterdam.
 * Visit the smallest town in the world, Durbuy, in the Ardennes.

Eat
While the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are cosmopolitan in their eating habits and have many fine dining venues, they have some distinct culinary traditions and are also influenced by the neighboring larger countries of France and Germany.

The Netherlands
Food in the Netherlands is traditionally based on meat, fish or cheese, with potatoes or bread as a staple, and few spices. The Dutch national dish is stamppot, potatoes mashed with one or several vegetables. While breakfast and lunch are made up of bread and cold cuts, dinner is typically a hot meal.

The Netherlands are a forerunner in industrial agriculture, and one of Europe's main exporters of dairy, meat and vegetables.

Indonesian cuisine has a large presence in the Netherlands, most notably in the form of the rijstaffel, an elaborate banquet comprising dishes from across the archipelago that was developed for the Dutch colonists in what was then the Dutch East Indies. While the tradition died out in Indonesia after independence, it was brought back to the Netherlands by the returning colonists, and is what Dutch people usually envision when they think of Indonesian food, although authentic Indonesian food such as Indonesians eat is also readily available in the Netherlands.

There is also some delicious New Dutch food in upscale restaurants.

North American fast food and the Middle Eastern cuisine are also widespread.

Belgium and Luxembourg
Belgium is at the crossroads between Germanic and French culture. Moules et frites/Mosselen met friet, mussels with French fried potatoes, is one of the best-known dishes. And despite being called "French fries" in English, they are really Belgian fries, and traditionally dipped in mayonnaise.

Luxembourg is famous for judd mat gaardebounen, smoked pork neck with beans.

Desserts
For dessert, in the Netherlands, try stroopwafels, the famous cookies from Gouda or almond fingers, rich with sugar and marzipan.

In Belgium, keep in mind that their chocolate is some of the best on the planet, and they are also famous for waffles, particularly Liège and Brussels waffles.

Drink
Belgium and the Netherlands are famous for their beers, especially tasty lager beer.

Stay safe
The Benelux is a safe area in general. Some specific areas (usually in urban areas) might require extra vigilance, but you will not need to fear for your life.

Go next
Possible day-trips include the historic cities of Lille and Aachen, that are just over the border in France and Germany, respectively. Many Europe-trippers take the train to Berlin with a possible de-tour of Quedlinburg on the way.

title: Benelux


text:
Bengali phrasebook

Bengali, also called Bangla (বাংলা Bāṁlā), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 270+ million people worldwide. Most people living in Bangladesh and the Indian states of Tripura and West Bengal use it as a first language. Bengali is the sole official language of Bangladesh and one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.

Pronunciation guide
The pronunciation in Bangladesh differs significantly from that of India and the so-called "Standard Bengali". The difference is basically in pronunciation and a few vocabulary differences, which make it problematic for Indian Bengalis to understand the Bangladeshi dialect and vice versa.

There are 11 vowels and 38 consonants in written Standard Bengali, some of which are not distinguished by their pronunciations.

Vowels
Bengali vowels can either be independent or hooked on to the consonant in the form of diacritics. The distinction between long (দীর্ঘ dīrgha) and short (হ্রস্ব hrasba) vowels is purely orthographic and both vowels are pronounced the same. The vowel অ does not have any equivalent diacritic and certain consonants in Bengali words are pronounced with the অ-sound.

 * অ aw/oh : like British dawn or like open
 * অ্যা a : like cat
 * আ া ah : like father
 * ই ি ih : like pin
 * ঈ ী ih : like pin
 * উ ু oo : like moon
 * ঊ ূ oo : like moon
 * ঋ ৃ rih : like return
 * এ ে eh/a : like bed or like cat
 * ঐ ৈ oi : like boy
 * ও ো oh : like open
 * ঔ ৌ ou : like boat

Consonants
Bengali consonants have many qualities not quite familiar to native English speakers, including dental, aspirated and retroflex consonants. Dental consonants are pronounced with the tongue touching the teeth, aspirated consonants are pronounced with a puff of air and retroflex consonants are pronounced with the tip of the tongue flapping against the roof of the mouth.

 * ক k : like skip
 * খ kh : like sinkhole
 * গ g : like go
 * ঘ gh : like loghouse
 * ঙ ng : like sing

 * চ ch : like chicken
 * ছ chh : like atchoo (sound of sneezing)
 * জ j : like jump
 * ঝ jh : like hedgehog
 * ঞ n/n : like not, nasalises the preceding vowel in words like মিঞা (MIHn-ah)

 * ট tt : like tick but retroflex
 * ঠ tth : like lighthouse but retroflex
 * ড dd : like doubt but retroflex
 * ঢ ddh : like mudhut but retroflex
 * ণ n : like end

 * ত t : like tick but dental
 * থ th : like lighthouse but dental
 * দ d : like doubt but dental
 * ধ dh : like mudhut but dental
 * ন n : like not

 * প p : like spin
 * ফ f : like friend
 * ব b : like boy
 * ভ bh : like abhor
 * ম m : like mould

 * য j : like jump
 * র r : like Spanish perro initially; like American butter  elsewhere
 * ল l : like leaf

 * শ sh : like ship
 * ষ sh : like ship
 * স s/sh : generally like ship ; in loanwords and before dental consonants, like sip
 * হ h : like behind

 * ড় rr : like American larder
 * ঢ় rrh : aspiration of the above consonant
 * য় e : semivocalic e

 * ৎ t : like tick but dental
 * ং ng : like sing
 * ঃ h : like head

Some of the above consonants, especially ব, ম, য and ঃ, can be silent and double the previous or following consonant. The silent য can be identified in the form of ্য (for example, বিদ্যা BIHD-dah).

The distinction between র, ড় and ঢ় is not always necessary and some speakers merge two or all of the three consonants into one.

Other diacritics

 * ঁ n : nasalises the vowel

Common multigraphs
Bengali also use several multigraphs, which represent certain pronunciations, including diphthongs.

 * অই oi : like boy
 * অয় oeh : roughly like straw end
 * আই igh : like buy
 * আয় aeh : no English equivalent, pronounce A in father and E in end together
 * আও aoh : like ciao
 * আউ ow : like how
 * উই wi/ui : like window
 * ওয়া wa/oa : like wander

 * ক্ষ kh : like sinkhole at initial ; like a double "kh" elsewhere
 * জ্ঞ g : like go at initial ; like a double hard "g" elsewhere
 * শ্ব sh : like ship at initial ; like a double "sh" elsewhere
 * স্ব sh : like ship at initial ; like a double "sh" elsewhere
 * হ্ব ubh : u followed by bh

Stress
As a general rule used in this phrasebook, stress the initial syllable.

Pseudo-phoneticisation
Wikivoyage provides pronunciation help in certain contexts such as phrasebooks and destination names. Wikivoyage's pronunciation help mainly uses pseudo-phoneticisation, for which readers can find a simplified pronunciation guide.

Phrase list
Unless otherwise noted, all the Bengali phrases are in Standard Bengali, which is based at Nadia and has been spoken by the people of West Bengal.

Basics

 * Hello. (Hindu)
 * নমস্কার (NAW-mohsh-kahr)

 * Hello. (Muslim)
 * আসসালামু আলাইকুম (ASS-sah-lah-moo AH-laih-koom)

 * Hello. (at phone)
 * হ্যালো (HA-loh)

 * How are you?
 * (আপনি) কেমন আছেন? ((AHP-nih) KA-mohn AH-chhehn?)

 * How are you? (familiar)
 * (তুমি) কেমন আছ? ((TOO-mih) KA-mohn AH-chhoh?)

 * Fine, thank you.
 * (আমি) ভাল আছি, ধন্যবাদ। ((AH-mih) BHAH-loh (AH-chhi), DHOHN-noh-bahd)

 * What is your name?
 * আপনার নাম কী? (AHP-nahr nahm KIH?)

 * What is your name? (familiar)
 * তোমার নাম কী? (TOH-mahr nahm KIH?)

 * My name is ______.
 * আমার নাম ______। (AH-mahr nahm ______)

 * Nice to meet you.
 * আপনার সাথে পরিচয় করে ভাল লাগল। (AHP-nahr SHAH-theh POH-rih-choeh KOH-reh BHAH-loh LAHG-loh)

 * Nice to meet you. (familiar)
 * তোমার সাথে পরিচয় করে ভাল লাগল। (TOH-mahr SHAH-theh POH-rih-choeh KOH-reh BHAHL lahg-loh)

 * Please.
 * দয়া করুন। (DAWEH-ah KOH-roon)

 * Please. (familiar)
 * দয়া করো। (DAWEH-ah KAW-roh)

 * Thank you.
 * ধন্যবাদ। (DHOHN-noh-bahd)

 * You're welcome.
 * স্বাগত। (SHAH-gaw-toh)

 * Yes.
 * হ্যাঁ। (HAN)

 * No.
 * না। (NAH)

 * Excuse me. (getting attention)
 * এই যে! (EIH jeh!)

 * Excuse me. (getting attention, informal)
 * এই! (EI!)

 * Excuse me. (begging pardon)
 * ক্ষমা/মাফ করবেন। (KHAW-mah/MAHF KOHR-behn)

 * Excuse me. (begging pardon, informal)
 * ক্ষমা/মাফ করো। (KHAW-mah/MAHF KAW-roh)
 * ক্ষমা/মাফ কর। (KHAW-mah/MAHF kawr)

 * I'm sorry.
 * আমি দুঃখিত (AH-mih DOOCK-khih-toh)
 * আমায় ক্ষমা/মাফ করবেন। (AH-migh KhAW-mah/MAHF KOHR-behn)

 * I'm sorry. (familiar)
 * আমায় ক্ষমা/মাফ করো। (AH-migh KHAW-mah/MAHF KAW-roh)

 * Goodbye.
 * বিদায়। (BIH-digh)

 * Goodbye. (Muslim)
 * খোদা হাফেজ/আল্লা হাফেজ। (KHOH-dah HAH-fehz/AHL-lah HAH-fehz)

 * Goodbye. (informal)
 * টাটা। (TTAH-ttah)
 * বাইবাই। (BIGH-bigh)

 * I can't speak Bengali [well].
 * আমি বাংলা [ভাল] বলতে পারি না। (AH-mih BANG-lah [BHAH-loh] BOHL-teh PAH-rih NAH)

 * Do you speak English?
 * আপনি কি ইংরেজিতে বলতে পারেন? (AHP-nih kih IHNG-reh-jih-teh BOHL-teh PAH-rehn?)

 * Do you speak English well? (familiar)
 * তুমি কি ইংরেজিতে বলতে পারো? (TOO-mih kih IHNG-reh-jih-teh BOHL-teh PAH-roh?)
 * ইংরেজি বলো? (IHNG-reh-jih BAW-loh?)

 * Is there someone here who speaks English?
 * এখানে কেউ আছেন যিনি ইংরেজিতে বলতে পারেন? (EH-khah-neh keu AH-chhehn JIH-nih IHNG-reh-jih-teh BOHL-teh PAH-rehn?)

 * Help!
 * বাঁচাও! (BAHN-chao)

 * Help! (formal)
 * বাঁচান! (BAHN-chahn)

 * Good morning.
 * শুভ সকাল। (SHOO-bhoh SHAW-kahl)

 * Good morning. (formal)
 * সুপ্রভাত। (SHOO-proh-bhaht)

 * Good evening.
 * শুভ সন্ধ্যা। (SHOO-bhoh SHON-dhah)

 * Good night.
 * শুভ রাত্রি। (SOO-bhoh RAH-trih)

 * Good night (to sleep)
 * ভাল ঘুম হোক। (BHAH-loh GHOOM hok)

 * Good night (to sleep, formal)
 * শুভ নিদ্রা। (SHOO-bhoh NIH-drah)

 * I don't understand.
 * আমি বুঝতে পারছি না। (AH-mih BOOJH-teh PAHR-chhih NAH)

 * Where is the toilet?
 * বাথরুমটা কোন দিকে? (BAHTH-room-ttah kohn DIH-keh?)

 * Where is the toilet? (formal)
 * শৌচাগার কোথায়? (SHOU-chah-gahr KOH-thigh?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone.
 * আমাকে একা ছেড়ে দিন। (AH-mah-keh A-kah CHHEH-rreh dihn)

 * Leave me alone. (informal)
 * আমাকে একা ছেড়ে দাও। (AH-mah-keh A-kah CHHEH-rreh dao)
 * আমাকে একা ছেড়ে দে। (AH-mah-keh A-kah CHHEH-rreh deh)

 * Leave me alone. (Bangladesh)
 * আমাকে একা ছাইড়া দিন। (AH-mah-keh A-kah SIGH-rrah dihn)

 * Leave me alone. (Bangladesh, informal)
 * আমাকে একা ছাইড়া দাও। (AH-mah-keh A-kah SIGH-rrah dao)
 * আমাকে একা ছাইড়া দে। (AH-mah-keh A-kah SIGH-rrah deh)

 * Don't touch me.
 * আমাকে ছোঁবেন না। (AH-mah-keh CHHÕH-behn NAH)

 * Don't touch me. (informal)
 * আমাকে ছোঁবে না। (AH-mah-keh CHHÕH-behn NAH)
 * আমাকে ছুঁবি না। (AH-mah-keh CHHÕO-bih NAH)

 * Don't touch me. (Bangladesh)
 * আমাকে ছুবেন না। (AH-mah-keh SOO-behn NAH)

 * Don't touch me. (Bangladesh, informal)
 * আমাকে ছুবে না। (AH-mah-keh SOO-behn NAH)
 * আমাকে ছুবি না। (AH-mah-keh SOO-bih NAH)

 * I'll call the police.
 * আমি পুলিশ ডাকব। (AH-mih POO-lihsh DAK-boh)

 * Police!
 * পুলিশ! (POO-lihsh!)

 * Stop! Thief!
 * চোর কোথাকার! থাম, থাম! (CHOHR KOH-thah-kahr! THAHM, THAHM!)

 * I need your help.
 * আপনার সাহায্য চাই। (AHP-nahr SHAH-haj-joh chigh)

 * I need your help. (informal)
 * তোমার সাহায্য চাই। (TOH-mahr SHAH-haj-joh chigh)
 * তোর সাহায্য চাই। (TOHR SHAH-haj-joh chigh)

 * It's an emergency.
 * এটা জরুরি সময়। (eta JOH-roo-rih SOH-moy)

 * I'm lost.
 * আমি হারিয়ে গিয়েছি/গেছি। (AH-mih HAH-ri-yeh GIH-yeh-chhih/GEH-chhih)

 * I'm lost (Bangladesh)
 * আমি হারাইয়া গিয়াছি। (AH-mih HAH-righ-yah GIH-yah-sih)

 * I lost my bag.
 * আমি ব্যাগ হারিয়ে ফেলেছি। (AH-mih bag HAH-rih-yeh PHEH-leh-chhih)

 * I lost my bag. (Bangladesh)
 * Bangladesh: আমি ব্যাগ হারাইয়া ফেলিতাছি। (AH-mih bag HAH-righ-yah PHEH-lih-tah-sih)

 * I lost my wallet.
 * আমি মানি ব্যাগ হারিয়ে ফেলেছি। (AH-mih MAH-nih bag HAH-rih-yeh PHEH-leh-chhih)

 * I lost my wallet. (Bangladesh)
 * আমি মানি ব্যাগ হারাইয়া ফেলিতাছি। (AH-mih MAH-nih bag HAH-righ-yah PHEH-lih-tah-sih)

 * I'm sick.
 * আমার শরীর খারাপ। (AH-mahr SHOH-rihr KHAH-rahp)
 * আমি অসুস্থ্য। (AH-mih AW-shoosh-thoh)

 * I need a doctor.
 * আমার ডাক্তার চাই। (AH-mahr DDAHK-tahr chigh)

 * Can I use your phone?
 * আমি কি আপনার ফোন ব্যবহার করতে পারি? (AH-mih kih AHP-nahr phohn BA-boh-hahr KOHR-teh PAH-rih?)

 * Can I use your phone? (informal)
 * আমি কি তোমার ফোন ব্যবহার করতে পারি? (AH-mih kih TOH-mahr phohn BA-boh-hahr KOHR-teh PAH-rih?)
 * আমি কি তোর ফোন ব্যবহার করতে পারি? (AH-mih kih tohr phohn BA-boh-hahr KOHR-teh PAH-rih?)

Numbers

 * ০ 0 : শূন্য (SHOON-noh)
 * ১ 1 : এক (ack)
 * ২ 2 : দুই (dui)
 * ৩ 3 : তিন (tin)
 * ৪ 4 : চার (chahr)
 * ৫ 5 : পাঁচ (pãhch)
 * ৬ 6 : ছয় (chhoy)
 * ৭ 7 : সাত (shaht)
 * ৮ 8 : আট (aht)
 * ৯ 9 : নয় (noy)
 * ১০ 10 : দশ (dawsh)
 * ১১ 11 : এগারো (A-gah-roh)
 * ১২ 12 : বারো (BAH-roh)
 * ১৩ 13 : তেরো (TEH-roh)
 * ১৪ 14 : চোদ্দো (CHOHD-doh)
 * ১৫ 15 : পনেরো (POH-neh-roh)
 * ১৬ 16 : ষোলো (SHOH-loh)
 * ১৭ 17 : সতেরো (SHAW-teh-roh)
 * ১৮ 18 : আঠারো (AH-tthah-roh)
 * ১৯ 19 : উনিশ (OO-nihsh)

 * ২০ 20 : বিশ/কুড়ি (bihsh/KOO-rrih)
 * ২১ 21 : একুশ (EH-koosh)
 * ২২ 22 : বাইশ (bighsh)
 * ২৩ 23 : তেইশ (teish)
 * ৩০ 30 : ত্রিশ/তিরিশ (trihsh/TIH-rihsh)
 * ৪০ 40 : চল্লিশ (CHOHL-lish)
 * ৫০ 50 : পঞ্চাশ (PAWN-chash)
 * ৬০ 60 : ষাট (shatt)
 * ৭০ 70 : সত্তর (SHOT-tohr)
 * ৮০ 80 : আশি (AH-shih)
 * ৯০ 90 : নব্বই (NOHB-boy)

 * ১০০ 100 : একশো (ACK-shoh)
 * ১০০০ 1000 : (এক) হাজার ((ak) HAH-jahr)
 * ২০০০ 2000 : দু-হাজার (DOO-hah-jahr)
 * ১০,০০০ 10,000 : দশ হাজার (dawsh hah-jahr)
 * ১,০০,০০০ 1,00,000 : (এক) লাখ/লক্ষ ((ack) lahkh/LOHCK-khoh)
 * ১০,০০,০০০ 10,00,000 : দশ লাখ/লক্ষ (dawsh lahkh/LOHCK-khoh)
 * ১,০০,০০,০০০ 1,00,00,000 : (এক) কোটি ((ack) KOH-ttih)

 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
 * নম্বর _____ (NAWM-bohr _____)

 * half
 * অর্ধেক (AWR-dhehck)
 * আধ (ahdh) (informal)

Time

 * now : আজ/এখন (ahj/A-khohn)
 * later : পরশু (POHR-shoo)
 * before : আগে (AH-geh)
 * morning : সকাল (SHAW-kahl)
 * afternoon : দুপুর (DOO-poor)
 * evening : সন্ধ্যা/সন্ধ্যে (SHOHN-dhah/SHOHN-dheh)
 * night : রাত/রাত্রি (raht/RAH-trih)
 * night (Bangladesh) : রাইত (right)

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : রাত/রাত্রি একটা (RAHT/RAH-trih ACK-ttah)
 * one o'clock AM (Bangladesh) : রাইত একটা (RIGHT ACK-ttah)

 * two o'clock AM : রাত/রাত্রি দুটো (RAHT/RAH-trih DOO-ttoh)
 * two o'clock AM (Bangladesh) : রাইত দুইটা (RIGHT DUI-ttah)

 * noon : বেলা (BA-lah)
 * noon (formal) : মধ্যাহ্ন (MOHD-dhahn-noh)

 * one o'clock PM : বেলা একটা (BA-lah AK-ttah)
 * two o'clock PM : বেলা দুটো (BA-lah DOO-ttoh)
 * two o'clock PM (Bangladesh) : বেলা দুইটা (BA-lah DUI-ttah)

 * midnight : মাঝরাত (MAHJH-raht)
 * midnight (formal) : মধ্যরাত্রি (MOHD-dhoh-rah-trih)

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ মিনিট (_____ MIH-nihtt)
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ ঘণ্টা (_____ GHAWN-ttah)
 * _____ day(s) : _____ দিন (_____ DIN)
 * _____ week(s) : _____ সপ্তাহ/হপ্তা (_____ SHAWP-tahoh/HAWP-tah)
 * _____ month(s) : _____ মাস (_____ MAHSH)
 * _____ year(s) : _____ বছর (_____ BAW-chhohr)

Days

 * today : আজ/এখন (ahj/A-khohn)
 * yesterday : গতকাল/পরশু (GAW-toh-kahl/POHR-shoo)
 * tomorrow : কাল (kahl)
 * tomorrow (formal) : আগামীকাল (AH-gah-mih-kahl)
 * this week : এই সপ্তাহ/হপ্তা (ey SHAWP-tahoh/HAWP-tah)
 * last week : গত সপ্তাহ/হপ্তা (GAW-toh SHAWP-tahoh/HAWP-tah)
 * next week : আগামী সপ্তাহ/হপ্তা (AH-gah-mih SHAWP-tahoh/HAWP-tah)
 * Sunday : রবিবার (ROH-bih-bahr)
 * Monday : সোমবার (SHOHM-bahr)
 * Tuesday : মঙ্গলবার (MOHNG-gohl-bahr)
 * Wednesday : বুধবার (BOODH-bahr)
 * Thursday : বৃহস্পতিবার (BRIH-hohsh-poh-tih-bahr)
 * Friday : শুক্রবার (SHOOCK-roh-bahr)
 * Saturday : শনিবার (SHOH-nih-bahr)

Gregorian calendar
Most Bengalis use the Gregorian calendar in everyday life.

 * January : জানুয়ারি (JAH-noo-yah-rih)
 * February : ফেব্রুয়ারি (PHEHB-roo-yah-rih)
 * March : মার্চ (mahrch)
 * April : এপ্রিল (EHP-rihl)
 * May : মে (meh)
 * June : জুন (joon)
 * July : জুলাই (JOO-ligh)
 * August : আগস্ট (AH-gohshtt)
 * September : সেপ্টেম্বর (SHEHP-ttehm-bawr)
 * October : অক্টোবর (AWK-ttoh-bawr)
 * November : নভেম্বর (NAW-bhehm-bawr)
 * December : ডিসেম্বর (DIH-shehm-bawr)

Bengali calendar
The Bengali calendar is the national and official calendar in Bangladesh and a variant of the calendar is also used in India. However, the usage is limited to holidays and events in both countries.

 * Boishakh : বৈশাখ (BOI-shahkh)
 * Joishtho : জ্যৈষ্ঠ (JOISH-tthoh)
 * Joishtho (West Bengal, informal) : জষ্টি (JOHSH-ttih)
 * Asharh : আষাঢ় (AH-shahrh)
 * Srabon : শ্রাবণ (SHRAH-bohn)
 * Bhadro : ভাদ্র (BHAH-droh)
 * Ashwin : আশ্বিন (AHSH-shihn)
 * Kartik : কার্তিক (KAHR-tick)
 * Ogrohayon : অগ্রহায়ণ (AWG-roh-hah-yohn)
 * Ogrohayon (informal) : আঘ্রান (AHGH-rahn)
 * Poush : পৌষ (poush)
 * Magh : মাঘ (mahgh)
 * Falgun : ফাল্গুন (FAHL-goon)
 * Choitro : চৈত্র (CHOIT-roh)

Writing time and date

 * 9 : 45 AM : সকাল পৌনে দশটা (SHAW-kahl POU-neh DAWSH-ttah)
 * January 23, 2017 : ২০১৭ সালের ২৩-এ জানুয়ারি (DU-hah-jahr SHAW-teh-roh SHAH-lehr TEY-sheh JAH-noo-yah-rih)

Colors

 * black : কালো (KAH-loh)
 * white : সাদা (SHAH-dah)
 * gray : ধূসর (DHOO-shawr)
 * red : লাল (lahl)
 * blue : নীল (nihl)
 * yellow : হলুদ (HOH-lood)
 * green : সবুজ (SHOH-booj)
 * orange : কমলা (KAW-moh-lah)
 * purple : বেগুনি (BEH-goo-nih)
 * purple (informal) : বেগনি (BEHG-nih)
 * brown : বাদামি/খয়েরি (BAH-dah-mih/KHAW-yeh-rih)

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____?
 * _____ যাওয়ার টিকিট কত? (_____ JAH-wahr TTIH-kihtt KAW-toh?)

 * One ticket to _____, please.
 * _____ যাওয়ার একটা টিকিট, প্লিজ়। (_____ JAH-wahr ACK-ttah TTIH-kihtt, plihz)

 * Where does this train/bus go?
 * ট্রেনটি/বাসটি কোথায় যাবে? (TTREHN-ttih/BAHSH-ttih KOH-thigh JAH-beh?)

 * Does this train/bus stop in _____?
 * ট্রেনটি/বাসটি কি _____-এ থামবে? (TTREHN-ttih/BAHSH-ttih kih _____-eh THAHM-beh?)

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : কী করে আমি _____ পৌঁছব? (kih KOH-reh AH-mih _____ PÕU-chhoh-boh?)
 * ...the train station? : ...রেল স্টেশনে (rehl SHTTEH-shawn-eh)
 * ...the bus station? : ...বাস স্টেশনে (bahsh SHTTEH-shawn-eh)
 * ...the airport? : ...বিমানবন্দরে (BIH-mahn-bawn-doh-reh)
 * ...downtown? : ...শহরের প্রাণকেন্দ্রে (SHAW-hoh-rehr PRAHN-kehnd-reh)
 * ...the youth hostel? : ...ইয়ুথ হোস্টেলে (IH-yoo-th HOHSH-tteh-leh)
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ..._____ হোটেলে (_____ HOH-tteh-leh)
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : আমেরিকান/কানাডিয়ান/অস্ট্রেলীয়/ব্রিটিশ দূতাবাসে (AH-meh-rih-kahn/KAH-nah-ddih-yahn/AWSH-ttreh-lih-yoh/BRIH-ttihsh doo-tah-bah-she)

 * Where are there a lot of... : ...কোথায় পাবো? (... KOH-thigh PAH-boh?)
 * ...hotels? : ...হোটেল (HOH-ttehl)
 * ...restaurants? : ...রেস্তোরাঁ/রেস্টুরেন্ট (REHSS-toh-rãh/REHSH-ttoo-rehntt)
 * ..bars? : ...মদের দোকান/বার (MAW-dehr DOH-kahn/bahr)
 * ...sites to see? : ...দর্শনীয় স্থান (DAWR-shoh-nih-yoh sthahn)
 * Can you show me on the map? : মানচিত্রে এটা দেখাবেন? (MAHN-chiht-reh EH-ttah DEH-khah-behn?)

 * street : রাস্তা (RAHSH-tah)
 * Turn left. : বামদিকে/বাঁদিকে ঘুরুন। (BAHM-dih-keh/BÃH-dih-keh GHOO-roon)
 * Turn left. (informal)
 * বামদিকে/বাঁদিকে ঘোরো। (BAHM-dih-keh/BÃH-dih-keh GHOH-roh)
 * বামদিকে/বাঁদিকে ঘোর। (BAHM-dih-keh/BÃH-dih-keh GHOHR)

 * Turn right. : ডানদিকে ঘুরুন। (DDAHN-dih-keh GHOO-roon)
 * Turn right. (informal)
 * ডানদিকে ঘোরো। (DDAHN-dih-keh GHOH-roh)
 * ডানদিকে ঘোর। (DDAHN-dih-keh GHOHR)

 * left : বামদিকে/বাঁদিকে (BAHM-dih-keh/BÃH-dih-keh)
 * left (informal) : বাঁয়ে (BÃH-yeh)

 * right : ডানদিকে (DDAHN-dih-keh)
 * right (informal) : ডাইনে (DDIGH-neh)

 * straight ahead : একদম সোজা (ACK-dawm SHOH-jah)
 * towards the _____ : _____-এর দিকে (_____-ehr DIH-keh)
 * past the _____ : _____ পেরিয়ে (_____ PEH-rih-yeh)
 * before the _____ : _____-এর আগে (_____-ehr AH-geh)

 * in front of the _____ : _____-এর সামনে (_____-ehr SHAHM-neh)
 * behind the _____
 * _____-এর পিছনে (_____-ehr PIH-chhoh-neh)
 * _____-এর পিছে (_____-ehr PIH-chheh)

 * Watch for the _____.
 * _____ খুঁজুন। (_____ KHÕO-joon)

 * Watch for the _____. (informal)
 * _____ খোঁজো। (_____ KHÕH-joh)
 * _____ খোঁজ। (_____ KHÕHJ)

 * intersection (three-point) : তেমাথায় (TEH-mah-thigh)
 * intersection (four-point) : চৌমাথায়/চৌরাস্তায় (CHOU-mah-thigh/CHOU-rahss-tigh)
 * inside : ভিতরে/ভেতরে (VIH-toh-reh/VEH-toh-reh)
 * outside : বাইরে (BIGH-reh)
 * north : উত্তরে (OOT-toh-reh)
 * south : দক্ষিণে (DOHCK-khih-neh)
 * east : পূর্বে (POOR-beh)
 * west : পশ্চিমে (POHSH-chih-meh)

Taxi

 * Taxi!
 * ট্যাক্সি! (TTACK-shih!)

 * Take me to _____, please.
 * আমাকে _____-এ পৌঁছে দাও, প্লিজ়। (AH-mah-keh _____-eh PÕU-chheh dao, plihz)

 * How much does it cost to get to _____?
 * _____-এ যেতে কত খরচ হবে? (_____-eh JEH-teh KAW-toh KHAW-rohch HAW-beh?)

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : কোনো রুম ভাড়া পাওয়া যাবে? (KOH-noh ROOM BHAH-rrah PAh-wah JAH-beh?)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : একজনের/দুজনের জন্য ভাড়া কত? (ACK-joh-nehr/DOO-joh-nehr JOH-noh BHAH-rrah KAW-toh?)
 * Does the room come with... : রুমে কি...আছে? (ROO-meh kih...AH-chheh?)
 * ...bedsheets? : চাদর (CHAH-dohr?)
 * ...a bathroom? : একটি বাথরুম? (EHCK-ttih BAHTH-room?)
 * ...a telephone? : একটি টেলিফোন? (EHCK-ttih TTEH-lih-phohn?)
 * ...a TV? : একটি টিভি? (EHCK-ttih TTIH-bhih?)
 * May I see the room first? : আমি কি রুমটি আগে দেখতে পারি? (AH-mih kih ROOM-ttih AH-geh DEHKH-teh PAH-rih?)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : এর চেয়ে শান্ত রুম আছে? (ehr CHEH-yeh SHAHN-toh room AH-chheh?)
 * ...bigger? : এর চেয়ে বড়? (ehr CHEH-yeh BAW-rroh?)
 * ...cleaner? : এর চেয়ে পরিষ্কার? (ehr CHEH-yeh POH-rihsh-kahr?)
 * ...cheaper? : এর চেয়ে সস্তা? (ehr CHEH-yeh SHAWSH-tah?)
 * OK, I'll take it. : ঠিক আছে, আমি এটা নেব। (tthihck AH-chheh, AH-mih EH-ttah NEH-boh)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : আমি _____ রাত থাকব। (AH-mih _____ raht THAHCK-boh.)
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : আপনি কি অন্য কোনো হোটেলের নাম বলতে পারবেন? (AHP-nih ki OHN-noh KOH-noh HOH-tteh-lehr nahm BOHL-teh PAHR-behn?)
 * Do you have a safe? : আপনার কাছে কি সিন্দুক/সেফ আছে? (AHP-nahr KAH-chheh kih SHIHN-doock/SHEHPH AH-chheh?)
 * ...lockers? : লকার? (locker?)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : সকালের/রাতের খাবার সহ? (SHAW-kah-lehr/RAH-tehr KHAH-bahr SHAW-hoh?)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? (Bangladesh) : নাস্তা/রাতের খাবার সহ? (NAHSH-tah/RAH-tehr KHAH-bahr SHAW-hoh?)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : সকালের/রাতের খাবার কটায়? (SHAW-kah-lehr/RAH-tehr KHAH-bahr KAW-ttigh?)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? (Bangladesh) : নাস্তা/রাতের খাবার কয়টায়? (NAHSH-tah/RAH-tehr KHAH-bahr KOY-ttigh?)
 * Please clean my room. : ঘরটা পরিষ্কার করুন। (GHAWR-ttah POH-rihsh-kahr KOH-roon.)
 * Can you wake me at _____? : আপনি কি আমাকে _____-টায় জাগাতে পারবেন? (AHP-nih kih AH-mahke _____-ttigh JAH-gah-teh PAHR-ben?)
 * I want to check out. : আমি চেক আউট করতে চাই। (AH-mih CHEHCK-owtt KOHR-teh chigh.)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : আপনি কি আমেরিকান/অস্ট্রেলীয়/কানাডিয়ান ডলার গ্রহণ করেন? (AHP-nih kih AH-meh-rih-kahn/AWSH-ttreh-lih-yoh/KAH-nah-ddih-yahn DDAW-lahr GROH-hohn KAW-rehn?)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : আপনি কি ব্রিটিশ পাউন্ড গ্রহণ করেন? (AHP-nih kih BRIH-ttihsh powndd GROH-hohn KAW-rehn?)
 * Do you accept euros? : আপনি কি ইউরো গ্রহণ করেন? (AHP-nih kih EW-roh GROH-hon KAW-rehn?)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : আপনি কি ক্রেডিট কার্ড গ্রহণ করেন? (AHP-nih kih KREH-ddihtt kahrdd GROH-hohn KAW-rehn?)
 * Can you change money for me? : আপনি কি আমার হয়ে টাকা ভাঙাতে পারবেন? (AHP-nih kih AH-mahe hoh-yeh TTAH-kah BHANG-ah-teh PAHR-behn?)
 * Where can I get money changed? : আমি কোথায় টাকা ভাঙাতে পারি? (AH-mih KOH-thigh TTAH-kah BHAHNG-ah-teh PAH-rih?)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : আপনি কি আমার হয়ে একটি ট্র্যাভেলার্স চেক ভাঙাতে পারবেন? (AHP-nih kih AH-mahe hoh-yeh EHCK-ttih TTRA-bheh-lahrsh chehck BHANG-ah-teh PAHR-behn?)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : আমি কোথায় ট্র্যাভেলার্স চেক ভাঙাতে পারি? (AH-mih KOH-thigh TTRA-bheh-lahrsh chehck BHAHNG-ah-teh PAH-rih?)
 * What is the exchange rate? : বিনিময় হার কত? (BIH-nih-moy hahr KAW-toh?)
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : এটিএম কোথায়? (EH-ttih-em KOH-thigh?)

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : দয়া করে একজনের/দুজনের জন্য খাবার দেবেন। (DAW-yah KOH-reh ACK-joh-nehr/DOO-joh-nehr JOHN-noh KHAH-bahr DEH-behn)
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : আমি কি দয়া করে মেনুটা দেখতে পারি? (AH-mih kih DAW-yah KOH-reh MEH-noo-ttah DEHKH-teh PAH-rih?)
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : আমি কি রান্নাঘরটা দেখতে পারি? (AH-mih kih RAHN-nah-ghawr-ttah DEHKH-teh PAH-rih?)
 * I'm a vegetarian. : আমি নিরামিষ। (AH-mih NIH-rah-mihsh)
 * I don't eat pork. : আমি শুয়োরের/শূকরের মাংস খাই না। (AH-mih SHUO-rehr/SHOO-koh-rehr MAHNG-shoh khigh nah)
 * I don't eat beef. : আমি গরুর মাংস/গোমাংস খাই না। (AH-mih GOH-roor MAHNG-shoh/GOH-mahng-shoh khigh nah)
 * I only eat kosher food. : আমি শুধু কোশার খাবার খাই। (AH-mih SHOO-shoo KOH-shahr KHAH-bahr khigh)

 * breakfast : সকালের খাবার (SHAW-kah-lehr KHAH-bahr)
 * breakfast (formal) : প্রাতরাশ (PRAH-toh-rahsh)
 * breakfast (Bangladesh) : নাস্তা (NAHSH-tah)
 * lunch : দুপুরের খাবার (DOO-poo-rehr KHAH-bahr)
 * tea (meal) : চা-খাবার (CHAH KHAH-bahr)
 * supper : রাতের খাবার (RAH-tehr KHAH-bahr)

 * chicken : মুরগির মাংস (MOOR-gihr MAHNG-shoh)
 * beef : গরুর মাংস/গোমাংস (GOH-roor MAHNG-shoh/GOH-mahng-shoh)
 * fish : মাছ (mahchh)
 * cheese : পনির (POH-nihr)
 * (fresh) vegetables : (টাটকা) সবজি ((TTAHTT-kah) SHOHB-jih)
 * (fresh) fruit : (টাটকা) ফল ((TTAHTT-kah) PHAWL)
 * bread : রুটি (ROO-ttih)
 * bread (European bread) : পাঁউরুটি (PÕW-roo-ttih)
 * noodles : নুডুলস/চাউ (NOO-doolsh/CHOW)
 * rice : ভাত (bhaht)

 * May I have a glass of _____?
 * আমি কি এক গ্লাস/গেলাস _____ পেতে পারি? (AH-mih kih ack glahsh/GEH-lahsh _____ PEH-teh PAH-rih?)

 * May I have a cup of _____?
 * আমি কি এক কাপ _____ পেতে পারি? (AH-mih kih ack KAHP _____ PEH-teh PAH-rih?)

 * May I have a bottle of _____?
 * আমি কি এক বোতল _____ পেতে পারি? (AH-mih kih ack BOH-tohl _____ PEH-teh PAH-rih?)

 * coffee : কফি (KAW-phih)
 * tea (drink) : চা (chah)
 * juice : সরবৎ (SHAWR-boht)
 * water (Bangladesh) : পানি (PAH-nih)
 * water (India) : জল (jawl)
 * salt : নুন (noon)
 * black peeper : গোলমরিচ (GOHL-moh-rihch)
 * butter : মাখন (MAH-khohn)
 * I'm finished. : আমার খাওয়া-দাওয়া শেষ। (AH-mahr KHAH-wah DAH-wah shehsh)
 * Please clear the plates. : থালাগুলো সরিয়ে দিন। (THAH-lah-goo-loh SHOH-rih-yeh dihn)

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : আপনাদের দোকানে কি মদ চলে? (AHP-nah-dehr DOH-kah-neh kih mawd CHAW-leh?)
 * A bottle, please. : এক বোতল দিন। (ack BOH-tohl dihn)
 * whiskey : হুইস্কি (HUISH-kih)
 * vodka : ভদকা (BHAWD-kah)
 * rum : রাম (rahm)
 * One more, please. : আরেকটু দিন, প্লিজ। (AH-rehck-too dihn, plihj)
 * Cheers! : চিয়ার্স! (CHIH-yahrsh)

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : এটা কি আমার সাইজে হবে? (Eta ki amar saize hobe?)
 * How much is this? : এটার দাম কত? (Etar dam koto?)
 * That's too expensive. : এটার দাম অনেক বেশি। (Etar dam onek beshi.)
 * Would you take _____? : আপনি কি _____ নেন? (Apni ki _____ grohon koren nan?)
 * expensive : দামি (dami)
 * cheap : সস্তা (shosta)
 * I can't afford it. : এটা আমার সামর্থ্যের বাইরে। (Eta amar samorrther baire.)
 * I don't want it. : আমি এটা চাই না। (Ami eta chai na.)
 * You're cheating me. : আপনি আমাকে ঠকাচ্ছেন। (Apni amake thokachchen?)
 * I'm not interested. : আমি আগ্রহী না। (Ami agrohi na.)
 * OK, I'll take it. : ঠিক আছে, আমি এটা নেব। (Thik ache, ami eta nebo.)
 * Can I have a bag? : আমি কি একটা ব্যাগ পেতে পারি? (Ami ki ekta bag pete pari?)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : আপনি কি (বিদেশে) পাঠান? (Apni ki (bideshe) pathan?)
 * I need... : আমার ... দরকার। (Amar ... dorkar.)
 * ...toothpaste. : টুথপেস্ট। (toothpaste.)
 * ...a toothbrush. : একটি টুথব্রাশ। (ekti toothbrush.)
 * ...tampons. : ট্যামপন। (tampon.)
 * ...soap. : সাবান। (shaban)
 * ...shampoo. : শ্যাম্পু। (shampoo.)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ব্যথানাশক যেমন, অ্যাসপিরিন বা ইবুপ্রোফিন (bethanashok. e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
 * ...cold medicine. : ঠান্ডার ওষুধ। (thandar oshudh.)
 * ...stomach medicine. : পেটের ওষুধ। (peter oshudh.)
 * ...a razor. : একটি রেজর। (ekti razor.)
 * ...an umbrella. : একটি ছাতা। (ekti chata.)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : সানব্লক লোশন। (sunblock lotion.)
 * ...a postcard. : একটি পোস্টকার্ড। (ekti postcard.)
 * ...postage stamps. : ডাকটিকিট। (daktikit.)
 * ...batteries. : ব্যাটারি। (battery.)
 * ...writing paper. : লেখার কাগজ। (lekhar kagoj.)
 * ...a pen. : একটি কলম। (ekti kolom.)
 * ...English-language books. : ইংরেজি বই। (ingreji boi.)
 * ...English-language magazines. : ইংরেজি ম্যাগাজিন। (ingreji magazine)
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : একটি ইংরেজি পত্রিকা। (ekoti ingreji potrika.)
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : একটি ইংরেজি থেকে ইংরেজি অভিধান। (ekti ingreji theke ingreji obhidhan)

Clothes
clothe(s)
 * kapor

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : আমি একটি গাড়ি ভাড়া নিতে চাই। (Ami ekti gari bhara nite chai.)
 * Can I get insurance? : আমি কি ইনস্যুরেন্স পেতে পারি? (Ami ki insurance pete pati?)
 * stop (on a street sign) : থামুন (thamun)
 * one way : একমুখী (akmukhi)
 * no parking : নো পার্কিং/পার্কিং নিষিদ্ধ (No parking/Parking nishiddho)
 * speed limit : গতিসীমা (gotiseema)
 * gas (petrol) station : গ্যাস (পেট্রোল) স্টেশন (gas (petrol) station)
 * petrol : পেট্রোল (petrol)
 * diesel : ডিজেল (diesel)

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : আমি কিছু ভুল করিনি (AH-mih KIH-chhoo bhool KOH-rih-nih)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : এটা ভুল বোঝাবুঝি ছিল। (EH-ttah bhool BOH-jha-boo-jhih CHHIH-loh)
 * Where are you taking me? : আপনি/আপনারা আমাকে কোথায় নিয়ে যাচ্ছেন? (AHP-nih/AHP-nah-rah AH-mah-keh KOH-thigh NI-yeh JAHCH-chhehn?)
 * Am I under arrest? : আমি কি গ্রেফতার হয়ে গেছি? (AH-mih kih GREHPH-tahr hoh-yeh GEH-chhih?)
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : আমি একজন আমেরিকান/অস্ট্রেলীয়/ব্রিটিশ/কানাডিয়ান নাগরিক। (AH-mih ACK-john AH-meh-rih-kahn/AWSH-ttreh-lih-yoh/BRIH-ttihsh/KAH-nah-ddih-yahn NAH-goh-rihck)
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : আমি মার্কিন/অস্ট্রেলীয়/ব্রিটিশ/কানাডীয় দূতাবাসের সাথে কথা বলতে চাই। (Ami Markin/Austreliyo/British/Canadiyo dutabaser sathe kotha bolte chai.)
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : আমি একজন উকিলের সাথে কথা বলতে চাই। (Ami akjon wukeeler sathe kotha bolte chai.)
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : আমি কি এখন শুধু জরিমানা দিতে পারি? (Ami ki ekhon shudhu jorimana dite pari?)

title: Bengali phrasebook


text:
Bengbu

Bengbu (蚌埠; Bèngbù; literally "Clam Wharf" or "Oyster Quay") is a prefecture-level city with a population of 3,469,700 (including rural area) in northern Anhui Province.

Get in
The city is on the Jinghu Railway, with hourly direct trains from Beijing, Shanghai and other large cities. Bengbu South Station is in the south of Donghai Avenue, Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail to the first station, east China Central Station, one of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail seven central hub station, while the high-speed railway linking Beijing and Taiwanco mussels passenger line. The early stages of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail operating speed of 300 km, the initial operation Bengbu to Nanjing can be reached in about 35 minutes.

Get around
Taxis start at ¥5 for 2.5 km, and ¥1.2 per km after that.

See
Bengbu is the birthplace of the Huagudeng Sizhou drama, has been declared the country and the world intangible cultural heritage.

Do
Bengbu is the provenance of the House of Flying Daggers, Farewell My Concubine story Gaixia ancient battlefield Gaixia, to pay homage; contains white Ruquan, Bian and Tung Kai Mother Stone, Yu Temple Jing Tu Lanwins; Huaihe River culture Square, and the musical fountain Metro night; covered by the Long Lake and the awl mountain Scenic Area, including the soup and the tomb of the pearl bridge, Long Lake bridge, the Longhu style garden, and martyrs' cemetery, including Longhu scenery; city River, Huaihe RiverLiu view of the scenery on both sides Huai River; the center of the Pearl Garden dawn; According to legend, Yu Yu dukes princes Tu Yu Kuaihuai ancient executive instruments of peace, the nations "; Wang Huai tower, public lake Zhang Gong foothills; the Tuohu crab and mussels mountain sunset.

Buy
Antique jade, wine and Anhui, the arrival of tobacco, a product of Huangshan smoke, the Guzhen peanut, Huaiyuan asparagus, peppermint oil, pomegranate. Five river crabs.

Eat
A local specialty is river crayfish cooked with lots of spices. There is a whole block near the center of town that consists mainly of restaurants serving this and other dishes. Turn right at the end of that block, there is a nice small trendy restaurant on the right. Specialties are ice cream and Japanese/Taiwan style light meals. The jiaozi are excellent.

title: Bengbu


text:
Benghazi

Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, with a population of 630,000 (2011). It is a center of Libyan commerce, industry, transport and culture. It continues to hold institutions and organizations normally associated with a capital city, including several national government buildings as well as the National Library of Libya.

Understand
The people of Benghazi are incredibly friendly. However, very few people speak any English and, because of the writing style (which is written right to left in Arabic), it can be almost impossible to recognize any public signs if you don’t know how to speak or read Arabic. Most things can, however, be sorted out with a bit of pointing and hand waving. The name derives from the Ottoman Turkish word Marsa ibn Ghazi who was a Turkish soldier.

The dress code is not as liberal as in Tripoli, and women should keep themselves covered - not because there would be trouble, but just out of respect. However, locals do not expect non-Muslim visitors to thoroughly comply with their customs.

People in Tripoli like a good argument and may shout at one another, but this is not an indication of any trouble. Even if it sounds harsh to you, if you understand Arabic, you will find out it is generally nothing of any consequence.

If you travel on a tourist visa, you must get the hotel staff to have your passport stamped or visit the local police station to register where you are staying and get a stamp in your passport - otherwise, you will not find it easy to leave the country.

If you wish to drive out of the city and visit the ruins or other sites of interest, you can get a local guide, but you will need a permit from the local tourist office before you may leave the city.

By plane

Delays are quite frequent and flights may be suspended, cancelled or delayed at any time.

The airport toilet facilities are awful, there are few, if any, public toilets, and most restaurants do not have them either, so you may have to wait until you get to the hotel or onto the aircraft.

Taxis
Taxis in Libya are interesting. They are either minibuses that travel round a predefined route or black and white cars (dead pandas) with taxi signs. Stick with the cars. Taxi travel is very cheap, but the vehicles are generally in a bad state of repair. Try to sit in the back as the journeys can be somewhat exciting when in the passenger seat, when drivers tend to turn across traffic lanes. Judging by the number of dents on the sides of the cars, the drivers do not always make this maneuver successfully.

Taxi vehicles often lack parts that Westerners tend to take for granted -- such as indicators, headlights, bumpers, working brakes and wheel nuts.

The taxi drivers are like most European taxi drivers. They enjoy sharing their opinions with you, even if you can't understand them - but, as with most of the people in Benghazi, they are friendly, and they do try to make you feel welcome.

Currency
Shops accept only local currency, which can be exchanged at the larger hotels in the mornings or after 15:00. Ask for Tibesti Hotel, a big hotel, with grass on the slopes around it. It has a bureau de change and two cashpoint machines, which accept Visa and Maestro/Cirrus.

Credit cards are not generally accepted, so nobody will say 'that will do nicely'. (very limited number of shops accept them)

Shopping
For those who are looking for famous brands, then go to Dubai Street, where most of the international brands, such as Benetton, Nike, Celio, Addidas, Puma, Max Mara, and many more are available.

As there are very few tourists in Benghazi, there is very little to buy other than normal goods. So, it's easy to get a fridge, an aircon unit, a mobile phone, Mars bars, or Coke, but very little to buy as a souvenir. A sheesh? Pipe is a good bet - these are about 18 Libyan dinars for a 24-inch-high pipe. For traditional souvenirs, the best place will be Sok el Jered.

Eat
Anything. There is nothing that isn't acceptable to the western palate - the food can be quite spicy, although not excessively so.

Traditional Libyan fare appears to be couscous, kebabs, spicy potatoes, salads, and nothing that you wouldn't find in London.

There are a number of good restaurants. Although very basic by western standards, they do produce good meals. Round the back of the Tibesti Hotel there are some good Turkish restaurants; most of their food is very edible, and the prices are very reasonable.

Generally, service is very slow, so leave a good amount of time to have a meal. There are kebab takeaways if you are in a hurry, but in a hotel you can wait 30 minutes to get a waiter to take your order or bring you a menu. To save time it is often easier to pay for your meal/drinks as they are served, before saving the half-hour wait to get a bill.

The food is generally served a little cooler than you expect - it is generally warm rather than hot, and the chips are worth avoiding as they tend to be rubbery.

Drink
Alcohol is not allowed in Libya. The best things to drink are:

Coffee, although they do seem to want to give you Nescafe, as they think it's pretty cool; but just about everywhere you can get cappuccino or Arabian coffee, which are pretty good.

The mango juice is good and very thick.

Coke, Lilt, and 7Up cans are popular, as well as the lemon and mint teas.

Alcohol-free beer is widely available (Becks), as is 'Spitz', which tastes like campari or cough mixture. If you really want alcohol, wine is available from butcher's shops, but it's expensive (whisky is about USD 100 per bottle). It is said that the penalty for being caught drunk or with alcohol is to be driven back to your hotel room by the police. While this sounds safer than riding the local taxis, such approach is not recommended.

Smoking
A smoker's paradise. You can smoke anywhere you like. The "no smoking" signs in airports appear to be a guidance note rather than a command.

Hand-rolling tobacco is not available, but normal cigarettes are widely available and quite cheap, although slightly different than their western counterparts.

Duty free is somewhat limited, so it is best to buy on the way out rather than on the return journey; this obviously, does not apply to alcohol.

Sleep
Standards of maintenance are not always perfect and service can be slow, the rating system does not really correspond to international guidelines. Consider bringing your own towels.

Mobile phones
Outgoing calls and texting work on most networks. However, it is worth buying a local sim card from one of the mobile phone shops. These are much cheaper (around 1/5th of the normal roaming charges), and they will accept incoming calls.

There is no GPRS, but the 3G service allows you to send picture messaging.

Libya's phones are all unlocked, so the locals will not understand that the local sims will not work in all phones. Therefore, it is worth taking an unlocked phone or, when asking to buy a phone, hide yours, so they won't try to sell you a sim.

Sim cards are about USD5, and phones around USD50.

Internet access
As of yet there are internet cafes in the area, but ADSL and WiMax internet are now available.

title: Benghazi


text:
Bengkulu

Bengkulu is the capital of Bengkulu province, which is named after the city, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. With a population of 329,000 (latest estimate for 2014), Bengkulu is the largest city of Bengkulu province. It was founded by the British as their main source of pepper for almost two hundred years, before being exchanged for Malacca in 1824. The city offers slow-paced and quiet coastal life - locals hang out on the beach in the late afternoon buying freshly caught fish and waiting for the sun to set.

History
Several small chiefdoms ruled what is nowadays the Bengkulu area. These chiefdoms were under the loose suzerainty of the Inderapura Sultanate from southern West Sumatra. They didn’t flourish as much as the settlements in the eastern part of Sumatra that enjoyed the bustling traffic of Malacca Strait; they were far from major population centres, lacked natural harbours, and were swarmed with diseases. Inderapura became a vassal of the Banten Sultanate after its ruler married the daughter of Inderapura’s sultan circa 1560.

In 1682, the Dutch attacked Banten and expelled all other Europeans including the British from that town. The British thereupon signed a treaty with some chiefs, so as to maintain a presence in Sumatra. After a failed attempt by Banten-Dutch forces to knock the British out, the British established a trading post under the East Indian Company, named the area Bencoolen, and secured a safe anchorage spot for their ships. Their first fort (Fort York) didn’t last very long, leading them to built Fort Marlborough in 1714, which still robustly stands today.

This trading post brought the British only trouble, as it was never profitable, quarrels constantly broke out with the locals, and the local climate was deemed highly unpleasant; yet in spite of all of this, the British remained for another century. In 1807, a rebellion broke out to end the rule of Thomas Parr, the Resident of Bencoolen at that time. He was killed and decapitated in his home during the uprising.

Founder of modern Singapore, Thomas Stamford Raffles landed in Bencoolen on 19 March 1818 to assume the rule of the colony’s Governor General. He managed to abolish slavery, sent in convict labourers from India, and limited cockfighting and similar games among locals. During his time, the tug-of-war between the British and the Dutch concerning the archipelago once again took place. Somehow it was resolved in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824, in which British Bencoolen was ceded in exchange for Dutch Malacca. Bencoolen (which became Bengkoelen and Bengkulu later) remained part of the Dutch East Indies until the Japanese occupation in World War II.

During Sukarno's imprisonment by the Dutch in the early 1930s, the future first president of Indonesia lived briefly in Bengkulu where he met his wife, Fatmawati. After independence, the city became part of Sumatra Province, then South Sumatra Province, and finally was made capital of the newly-formed Bengkulu Province.

Bengkulu lies near the Sunda Fault and is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. In June 2000, an earthquake killed at least 100 people. A series of earthquakes struck Bengkulu later during September 2007, killing 13 people. A 2016 report stated that Bengkulu is at risk of inundation over the next few decades from undersea earthquakes predicted along the coast of Sumatra.

Talk
Indonesian is widely used in the city for official business, education, commerce, and service purposes. Locals also speak Bengkulunese Malay, lingua franca of the province, especially when conversing among themselves. Both are mutually intelligible, with little adaptation required.

Foreign languages are rarely heard in the city. Basic Indonesian knowledge helps a lot during your stay here. Youths should be able to hold conversation in basic English, although most of them will be quite shy about engaging in conversation in a foreign tongue. Despite that, locals are very happy to help and try their best.

By plane

To go to the city centre (14 km to the northwest of the airport), you can hail taxi with meter from the arrival hall. The ride costs about Rp120.000 and takes around 20 minutes. There are also illegal taxicabs that offers slightly cheaper price.

By bus

There are also several van travel services that ply the route between Padang and Palembang toward Bengkulu. Journey from/to Padang may pass Muara Bungo and Sarolangun in Jambi province (Trans-Sumatran Highway East Route) or the coastal road that go through Mukomuko and Painan (Trans-Sumatran Highway West Route). The latter offers less winding roads, although at some spots, there are potholes and damaged section due to its proximity to the beach. You should ask the travel counter before booking any ticket. Example: Loket Bus PO. SAN Padang, daily 10:00, Rp375,000 (Mar 2024), duration 18h, ac, no power/wifi.

By minivan
Minivan (angkot) acts as the city's sole public transport system. Riding the minivan will also give you insight into the daily life in the city, since its service covers most of Bengkulu, including traditional markets, business districts, and residential areas. There are neither fixed timetables nor proper stops. You can hail and alight from anywhere along the streets. State your destination before you board and pay when you alight. As of 2016, it costs Rp4.000 per trip regardless of distance. Operating hour is 06AM-06PM.

The drivers usually wait for their van to be filled, which may prolong your waiting time. They are not likely to speak English, so you'll need basic knowledge of Indonesian to ask for information or anything else. Words you need to know are "kiri" (kee-ree) or "minggir" (meeng-gear) which indicates you want to alight.

The minivan is colour- and alphabet-coded, based on which line it's operated in. Each alphabet actually has suffix to indicate certain route it takes, but in practice only Green and Red minivan follow the convention.

Architecture

 * Fort marlborough 1.jpg

Beaches
Bengkulu boasts numbers of white sand beach with groves of casuarina (instead of coconut trees you'd usually imagine of tropical beaches would look like). Surfing and swimming are generally not allowed, considering the rip current and sharp corals of the shores.

Culture
Once a year, ten days after Islamic New Year, Bengkulu city commemorates the fall of Husein, grandson of prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram 61 AH (10 October 681 AD). The ceremony is called Tabut which means coffin or wooden chest. The tradition is presumably brought by Shiite Madrasi and Bengali workers who were employed to built Fort Marlborough. As they intermarried with the local Malay, the tradition lived and kept for generations. Despite its religious root, the tradition had got more secular as the time passes. Their descendants (aptly named Tabut family) embraced Sunni denomination to assimilate further with the locals, other reasons being the government promotes its an elaborate tourism event, as well as the recent negative sentiment towards Shiite sect held by most Indonesians.

The ceremony lasts for 10 days. There are several smaller ceremonies you may see:
 * Mengambik Tanah. At 1 Muharram, the Tabut family comes to sacred cemeteries (one in the west of Fort Marlborough and another one in Pantai Panjang) at night to collect soil from the burial site. This soil lumps will be made into a shape of human body. After that, the family breaks into two groups (Bangsal and Berkas) - each then stores the soil dolls at their respective place.
 * Duduk Penja. At 5 Muharram, the families take out sacred jewelleries made of silver, copper, or brass called penja. The penjas takes form of human palm to symbolise the hand of Husein. The shaman/elder of the families washes the penjas with lime water and flower water at this ceremony and puts out some offerings. The soil doll and the penja is kept inside a coffin, which later will be decorated in a shape of lean pyramidal tower. The decorated coffin is the tabut that each group make some of it.
 * Menjara & Meradai. At 6 and 7 Muharram, each family will visit each other at their respective place. The visitor will ask the host to compete in drum-beating contest. On their way to the other’s place, they also play the drum and shouting some kind of warcry. People can give a donation to them during this time.
 * Mengarak. At 8 and 9 Muharram, the penjas and white turbans is put in small tabuts and paraded around the old town. At the night of 9 Muharram, the real tabuts is ready to hit the road where the two groups meet. They will be joined by non-sacred tabuts (made by the people outside of the family), floats, and art-performers from all over the city. They all then gather in the city’s square. The gathering is called tabut besanding and always accompanied by art performances.
 * Tabut Tebuang. On the last day, at 10 Muharram, the tabuts is brought to the grave of Tabut family’s ancestor. There, the soil doll and some parts of the decoration will be put on the grave. The oldest shaman of the family lead the whole ceremony, with some members often get in a trance state during the events.

The city certainly becomes livelier during this event. Area surrounding the city’s square will be turned into pasar malam for at least two weeks, with vendors and carnival troupes come from as far as Medan and Surabaya to sell various items at reasonable prices.

Usually the ceremony is held in View Tower, Kampung Cina, but in 2018 will be held in Fort Marlborough inline with International Bencoolen Dol Festival. Dol percussion is made from big tree with diameter 70-125 centimeters and is made as a tube and then is covered with cow skin at one end.

Drink
Coconut water and sugarcane juice are the most common drinks sold by street vendors and carts. The vendors store coconut water in a refrigerated water jar (comes with coconut shaving), but they make sugarcane juice on order.

Go next

 * Explore the rest of Bengkulu province.

title: Bengkulu


text:
Bengkulu (province)

Bengkulu is a province on the southwestern coast of Sumatra island in Indonesia.

Cities

 * - capital of Rejang Lebong Regency
 * - capital of Central Bengkulu Regency
 * - capital of Kaur Regency
 * - capital of Kepahiang Regency
 * - capital of North Bengkulu Regency
 * - capital of South Bengkulu Regency
 * - capital of Muko Muko Regency
 * - capital of Seluma Regency
 * - capital of Tubei Regency
 * - capital of Tubei Regency

Other destinations

 * — Home to Mount Nanu'ua. Also a good dive spot to see coral reefs and sunken warships.

History
The region was subject to the Buddhist Srivijaya empire in the 8th century. The Shailendra Kingdom and Singosari Kingdom succeeded the Srivijaya but it is unclear whether they spread their influence over Bengkulu. The Majapahit also had little influence over Bengkulu.

The first European visitors to the area were the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch in 1596. The British East India Company established a pepper-trading center and garrison at Bengkulu (Bencoolen) in 1685.

During the early 1930s, Sukarno, the future first president of Indonesia, was imprisoned by the Dutch and briefly resided in Bengkulu, where he met his wife, Fatmawati. The couple had several children, including Megawati Sukarnoputri, who later became Indonesia's first female President. After independence, Bengkulu was initially part of the South Sumatra Province, which also included Lampung, the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and what is now South Sumatra itself, as a Residency. In 1968, Bengkulu gained provincial status, becoming the 26th province of Indonesia, preceding East Timor.

Climate
Bengkulu's climate is classified as tropical. Bengkulu has a large amount of rainfall throughout the year, even in the driest month. The climate here is classified as Af by the Köppen-Geiger system. The annual average temperature is 26.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 3360 mm.

By plane
The only airport with scheduled flights in the province is near Bengkulu city.

See
Bengkulu province labels itself as the land of rafflesia, the world's largest flower. Thomas Stamford Raffles and a British botanist Joseph Arnold collected a specimen of this yet-to-be-named flower in southern Bengkulu in 1818. Two years later, the specimen was given a name in honour of its discoverers, Rafflesia arnoldii. The species falls under the parasitic plant category which can only live off a certain type of vine, as it lacks its own leaves, stems, and roots.

The flowers attract large insects such as beetles and flies to pollinate by emitting rotten flesh odour. The fruit produced will be eaten by tree shrew which in turn spreads rafflesia seeds around. Its lengthy process of reproduction and unusual nature makes this plant becoming rare. Despite that, as many as 10 flowers can be observed to bloom in one year, especially during the wet season.

You may check the local news first to know if there are any rafflesia blooming. The usual spots to see the flower are (30 km east of Bengkulu city) and Bukit Daun Nature Reserve (52 km east of the city).

Eat
Those who are familiar with Malay cuisine will be no stranger with Bengkulunese dishes. Most of them use coconut milk and arrays of ground spices which gives rich and intense flavour. The meal consists of steamed rice or coconut rice, accompanied by two or three dishes, steamed vegetables or soup, and hot sauce (sambal). Simpler meal is consumed for breakfast, such as lontong tunjang (rice cake with shin of beef curry), mie pangsit (wonton noodle), mie celor (noodle soup with thick gravy made of egg, chicken broth, and maize flour), or soto Padang (noodle soup with beef broth and beef chunks).

Fish and seafood are abundant, notable dishes including: sala (batter fried grounded fish), masak asam (hot and sour fish stew), gulai palak ikan (fish head curry), ikan pais/pendap (fish wrapped in spicy coconut shaving and taro leaves), and bagar hiu (shark cooked in fried coconut shaving and array of grounded spices), Pempek (savoury fishcake, either steamed or deep fried, served in sweet-sour sauce), which comes from the neighbouring province of South Sumatra, is also a favourite along its variations such as burgo (pempek with thick rice noodle in coconut milk soup), lenggang (pempek omelette), and tekwan (pempek soup with shrimp broth with rice vermicelli)

Other typical Indonesian dishes can easily be found as well, usually chicken or egg or beef dishes, such as roasted chicken, chicken curry, beef rendang, and dendeng (fried thinly sliced beef). Most vegetable dishes takes precedent from Javanese cuisine - locals cook them in coconut milk (at this point you might wonder if there's any light meal comes from Bengkulu or Malay-sphere). Such concoction includes rebung asam (sour bamboo shoot curry) and gulai remunggai (winged beans curry).

Fruits
Most fruits you find in traditional markets comes from other cities or provinces, such as orange, papaya, sapodilla, avocado, and duku. However, fruits listed below hold certain regard in the city:
 * Calamondin
 * Durian is the favorite fruit of the local people in Bengkulu. It has a spiky skin on the outside but contains a sweet pulp. Some people think it smells nice but most foreigners usually think it smells bad! You can find fresh durian only from December to January, but durian jam (lempuk) is available year-round. Tempoyak is a traditional dish made with fermented durian. Usually people steam it with fish and eat with rice.
 * Melinjo
 * Kepayang

Go next

 * Nearby provinces: Jambi, Palembang, and Lampung.
 * Kerinci Seblat National Park — the largest national park of Sumatra, and the second-largest of the country, covering almost 14,000 km². It is one of the three parks listed as World Heritage as part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. In the park, the critically endangered Rafflesia arnoldii grows, the largest flower in the world. The active Mount Kerinci is the highest volcano of Indonesia (3,805 m)

title: Bengkulu (province)


text:
Benguela

Benguela is a city in Central Angola.

Understand
Founded by Portuguese general Manuel Cerveira Pereira in 1617. Benguela was long the centre of the slave trade to Brazil and Cuba.

By car
By road, it is about a seven-hour drive from Luanda, once you clear Luanda's traffic.

By train
Travelling by rail is once again an option, but trains are infrequent and slow. There are daily commuter trains from nearby Lobito and at least a once-weekly overnight train from Huambo, with connections from Luao next to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

See
There are some pretty colonial buildings in Benguela. A few are pictured in this article.

Beaches
There are several beautiful beaches around Benguela, including one right in the city center! The best beach resort hotel, though, is in Lobito. The beaches outside the city are close by and easy to reach by car, either your own or a hired taxi. They're really beautiful too, with the bluest water, the whitest sand, and most are flanked by dramatic cliffs. But remember that tourist facilities are limited and beaches are not well-maintained. A visit with high expectations of a tropical paradise vacation risks disappointment.

Go next

 * Caotinha is on a peninsula west of Benguela.
 * Lobito is 33 kilometres north of Benguela.

title: Benguela