text:
Kupang

Kupang is a city in West Timor and the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara.

By plane
There is a 'Coco Taxi' operating. A trip from airport to town should be Rp 50,000-80,000.

By bus
Kupang is a 12-hour bus ride away from Dili, East Timor. Soé is a 3-hour bus ride.

Get around
You can use "Microbus" (locally called bemo). The uniqueness of public transportation in the city of Kupang is due to the appearance filled with accessories, decorations and music blaring. Each bemo is manned by a driver and an assistant who collects the money from passengers. You can tell the assistant your destination/drop-off point in advance. There are multiple routes, so you need to ask your accommodations if any of the bemos are passing by your destinations. Within Kupang the route number can be seen on top of the bemo, whereas for further destination, it will write the destination name. Each trip is Rp 3,000 (as of Dec 2018).

Ride-hailing app such as Grab and Go-Jek is getting more popular here, but you may need to wait a little bit more as the number of drivers are still growing (as of Dec 2018).

Do
If you like loud music, you can try "Diskotek Berjalan" style of Kupang.

Eat

 * for Jagung Bose: along the sidewalk on the Jalan El Tari (in front of the Governor's office).
 * for Se'i Babi: 'Depot Bambu Kuning' and 'Se'i Babi Aroma' (two branches) are the two most popular places to have Se'i Babi.
 * Night Market (Pasar Malam): Every night there is a street food market centred around Jalan Kosasih, not far from the shore. The stalls fry up lots of fresh seafood - fish, lobsters, crabs, etc., while the tahu tempe penyet is a great vegetarian option. Next to the food stalls are drinks stations where the best options are the fresh juice. Juice avokap (avocado juice) and jus naga (dragonfruit juice) are especially common and are blended with ice, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk/chocolate syrup.
 * for Jagung Bose: along the sidewalk on the Jalan El Tari (in front of the Governor's office).
 * for Se'i Babi: 'Depot Bambu Kuning' and 'Se'i Babi Aroma' (two branches) are the two most popular places to have Se'i Babi.
 * Night Market (Pasar Malam): Every night there is a street food market centred around Jalan Kosasih, not far from the shore. The stalls fry up lots of fresh seafood - fish, lobsters, crabs, etc., while the tahu tempe penyet is a great vegetarian option. Next to the food stalls are drinks stations where the best options are the fresh juice. Juice avokap (avocado juice) and jus naga (dragonfruit juice) are especially common and are blended with ice, sugar, and sweetened condensed milk/chocolate syrup.

Go next

 * Soe: the highland area to visit traditional village in Boti and None. 3 hours. First, take the bemo to 'Noelbakul' destination, and then stop at Oesapa "bus stop". You can find "Travel" shared car for Rp 50,000 or a bus for Rp 30,000 (the bus to Kefamenanu will pass by Soe too, ask the bus assistant).
 * Dili (East Timor / Timor Leste): can be reached by bus or plane. Timor Tour & Travel offers air-conditioned mini-bus daily service for US$25 (around 12 hours). Air Timor has flights on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as of October 2019. The flight takes 45 min and costs US$70. EU passport holders (except Ireland or UK) no longer need a visa to East Timor. Otherwise, for all nationalities except Indonesian, a free 'Visa Authorisation Letter' must be obtained from the East Timorese Consulate prior to reaching the land border. Visa on arrival is available at the airport.

title: Kupang


text:
Kuranda

Kuranda is a small town in Far North Queensland adjoining the Barron Gorge National Park. It's only around half an hour to drive from Cairns, and the scenic trip by train or SkyRail makes an extremely popular day trip. The village and markets are overflowing with visitors during the middle of each day.

Get in

 * Drive from Cairns via the Captain Cook and Kennedy Highways. The trip takes approximately 40 minutes. You can access the most scenic points on the railway journey by car also, including the Barron Falls railway platform.
 * Hop on the Scenic Railway for a (very) leisurely 1½-hour trip 329 meters up and 34 kilometers out from Cairns. Two services daily in each direction.  One-way $50, return $76, reservations recommended. Child and family rates do apply.  Services depart from Cairns Central Station, close to the centre of Cairns and stop at Freshwater station along the way.  Freshwater is convenient if you are coming from Port Douglas and the north.  This is a scenic and historic journey rather than a utilitarian means of transport, and is priced accordingly.  The train carriages are not air-conditioned.
 * Catch the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. This is a gondola ride through the rainforest treetops, with a couple of stops on route to change cars. Great views of the rainforest canopy.   As of November 2016, are: One-way is $50 adults and $25 children, return is $75 adults and $37.50 children. A one-way Skyrail, one-way Kuranda Railway package is $109.50 adults and $54.75 children, with transfers back Smithfield/Freshwater at additional cost. The base station is around 15 km north of Cairns, around half-way to Kuranda.  Transfers from both Cairns, Cairns Beaches and Port Douglas are available.  A 5% discount is available when you book online.  The local buses service the Skyrail base station from Cairns every hour or so.  There is a large, free carpark at the Skyrail base station.
 * There are two bus companies that run scheduled bus services between Cairns and Kuranda. If you just want to get to Kuranda they will save you time and money over the scenic alternatives, taking only 40 minutes for the trip, and costing $6.70 per adult (as of November 2016).  Trans North bus makes several trips daily, and the timetables are on their website.

Many people combine the Kuranda Scenic railway and the skyrail, travelling to Kuranda on one and returning on the other. From the scenery point of view, take the railway first in the morning and after that make the Skyrail trip - take your time to stop and look around in the Rainforestation on the way back to the coast. After arriving at the coast side (great views), you have the opportunity to visit the Tjapukai village to learn something about the Aboriginal culture. You can book both directions through either service, but if you are booking late, you may have to book separately as they allocate each other a limited number of seats.

Combining the two is more expensive, both in terms of time and money. They both offer significant discounts for taking their service both ways, and only small discounts for combining the two. In addition getting from the Skyrail base station back to Cairns station is another logistical hassle, or additional cost if you pay for the transfers.

If you want to do the round trip with the Skyrail and the train and don't feel like coordinating with local buses, there are a number of tour companies that package that journey for you, including tickets and transfers.

If you are travelling up to Kuranda with luggage, bear in mind that neither the Skyrail nor the railway cater for large amounts of luggage. The Skyrail will not carry any luggage at all, and the amount is strictly limited to what will fit in the luggage space in the passenger compartment on the train. There is no problem with prams and daypacks, but neither of these methods of transport may be suitable if you are doing more than a day trip to Kuranda.

Get around
Kuranda is a small village, although somewhat hilly. Walking about 1km will take you from one end of town to the other. Don't count on being able to walk quickly, as the streets tend to be packed with people.

A one-way courtesy bus between the Skyrail and scenic railway stations at the south end of town and the wildlife attractions at the north of town. The bus departs every twenty minutes, but most people walk the distance.

See

 * Skeleton Creek
 * Skeleton Creek
 * Skeleton Creek
 * Skeleton Creek
 * Skeleton Creek
 * Skeleton Creek

Do
Much of what there is to do in Kuranda, is part of getting in - that is the SkyRail or the Train.

Buy
Kuranda is famous for its markets. They run everyday and have a wide range of crafts and locally made products. It's just a short walk from the Skyrail or the Kuranda Scenic Railway station to the village. The shops and markets open from 9AM and many close when the last train leaves at 3:30PM. The Original Rainforest Markets are located in Therwine Street behind the famous Honey House.(see listing above)

Eat
There is no shortage of cafe style places in Kuranda. Wander around and choose one that takes your fancy. Take-away food is also plentiful, in many different styles.

The markets have a range of stalls selling food, or even some eat-in style shacks with a view.

Drink
Try the "Bottom Pub" just near Skyrail for a bit of local atmosphere - not bad

Go next

 * Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve is 10 min drive west of Kuranda. Here you can view lions, tigers, bears, hippos, baboons.

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

title: Kuranda


text:
Kurashiki

Kurashiki (倉敷市 Kurashiki-shi) is one of Japan's great old merchant towns, with around half a million citizens today. Sitting along a scenic canal at the foot of Mt. Tsurugata, Kurashiki's white-walled storehouses are beautifully preserved and open for exploration.

Understand
During the Edo period, Kurashiki did heavy trade with the capital in rice, sugar, and other goods. Later, during the Meiji Restoration (i.e. after 1868), the city became known for textiles. Kurashiki escaped World War II largely unscathed, and as a result, many of the original storehouses, mills, and shops remain in beautiful condition, open to visitors in the Bikan Historic Area.

The effect is delightful — storehouses (倉 kura) with lattice windows share space with weeping willows along the banks of the old canal, which is illuminated at night. The canal has led some overly optimistic tourist associations to call Kurashiki "the Venice of Japan". If not that — the city surrounding the Bikan area is as much a concrete jumble as any other in the country — Kurashiki is still a rare piece of old Japan, one that gives a sense of where people lived and worked, not merely the temples at which they worshipped.

Tourist information
Tourist information can be found at the two main train stations.

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By train
Kurashiki is on the San'yo Main Line between Okayama and Fukuyama. The best way to reach Kurashiki from the San'yo Shinkansen is to transfer to a local train at Okayama; the ride takes about 15 minutes (¥320). The few express trains between Okayama and Kurashiki are more than twice as expensive, and will only save you a couple of minutes. However, if you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can take either a local or a limited express; on the latter, hop onto any non-reserved car and flash your rail pass to the conductor, declaring Kurashiki as your destination.

By bus
Several companies run daytime and overnight bus routes from Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Kochi, Fukuoka, and elsewhere. Operators include Chugoku JR Bus Company. Buses arrive and depart outside the north exit of JR Kurashiki Station.

On foot
The sites in and around the Bikan Historic District can all be reached on foot from the south exit of Kurashiki Station - about a ten minute walk down Chuo-dori or the Ebisu-dori covered arcade. Other areas of the city are spread out too far apart to walk between them. The jeans-related attractions can be reached on foot from Kojima Station but not the Washuzan or Shimotsui areas.

By train
Although the city is all connected by land, in terms of rail travel, it feels disconnected. Shin-Kurashiki and Kurashiki Station are located along the JR Sanyo Main Line, but the other areas require train transfers outside of the city to reach. To get to Kojima Station from Kurashiki Station you need to travel to Okayama Station and transfer to the Marine Liner. Similary, to reach the Makibi area, you need to take a train to Kiyone Station in Soja on the Hakibi Line and transfer to the private Ibara Railway which has three stations in Kurashiki: Kawabejuku Station, Kibinomakibi Station, and Bitchukurese Station.

Mizushima Rinkai Railway is a private railway company that runs from Kurashikishi Station (next to Kurashiki Station) to Mizushima Station (select trains go one stop further to Mizubishijiko-mae Station) in the Mizushima area.

For JR Rail Pass holders, the pass can be used on the Marine Liner to Kojima and to Kiyone Station however, Ibara Railway and Mizushima Rinkai Railway are private railways not covered by the pass.

By bus
Some parts of the city are most easily accessed by bus. For access to Washuzan, Washuzan Highland Park, and the Shimotsui area, there is an hourly bus from Kojima Station that does a loop to each of these areas.

The Tamashima area can be reached by bus from Shin-Kurashiki Station. Ikasa Bus and Ryobi Bus can both get you within walking distance of Entsuji and the Saisou-tei.

Although Kojima has a train station, there is a bus that operates twice per hour between Kurashiki Station and Kojima Station in about 50 minutes. If you don't have a rail pass, the bus is cheaper and more convenient than going by train. It also travels directly by the Bikan Historic District and Jeans Street, so you don't have to backtrack to or from any stations to reach them.

Bikan Historic Area
Even if you're not interested in the subject of a certain museum, the chance to explore inside these old warehouses and mills might be worth the price of admission. Virtually all of the museums (and many of the stores) are closed on Mondays, which does at least mean fewer crowds and photo hounds competing for that perfect shot at the foot of a bridge.

For a terrific view of the entire Bikan area, head up the granite stairs on Mt. Tsurugata to the Achi Shrine, and have a wander around the park at the top.

Tamashima Area
Although the Bikan Historic District is the most popular area to visit in Kurashiki, the Tamashima area is the most easily accessible, with Shin-Kurashiki Station, accessible by Shinkansen, as the main station.

Kojima Area
The Kojima area is located along the Seto Inland Sea, served by JR Kojima Station, and offers many great views of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. If you choose to travel from the Bikan area to the Kojima area by train, you can only reach it via Okayama. Take the Marine Liner from Okayama to Kojima Station. Bus #6 from JR Kurashiki Station runs to JR Kojima Station, if you prefer a street-level view while travelling between the two locations. Rentacycles are available and make the region more accessible for those who want to see the Shimotsui area at their own pace and for much less than a taxi ride.

Events
Since the Edo Period, Kurashiki has had an interesting mascot known as Su-inkyo (素隠居) that appears at Achi Shrine's May and October festivals. The Su-inkyo are people wearing masks of an old man and woman carrying fans. If they touch your head, it is said to bring good luck. The masks look jovial and most people approach them for luck, but there are always a few terrified children crying as their parents carry them over to grant them begrudging fortune.

Buy
If you have enough money to spend, you'll find some gorgeous traditional souvenirs to buy in Kurashiki. The city has been producing high-end textiles for more than two centuries, but locally-made blown-glass (ガラス) and the famed Bizen-yaki (備前焼) pottery are sold as well. Cheaper souvenirs and knick-knacks are available in the Ebisu-dori covered shopping arcade, which runs part of the route between the station and the Bikan area.

Eat

Drink
Plenty of bars are clustered around the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station. In the Bikan area, Ivy Square (see Buy) has a nice beer garden.

Sleep
Although Kurashiki is an easy day-trip from Okayama, it's worth staying overnight to enjoy the late evening and early morning atmosphere of the Bikan area (without the daytime crowds).

Go next
There are many worthwhile places to travel within the prefecture.

 * Okayama — Home to Koraku-en, one of Japan's Top 3 gardens, the Kibi Trail, a variety of museums, and all the Momotaro you could possibly want.
 * Soja — A Zen temple, Hofukuji Temple, where the poet and priest Sesshu once lived, as well as housing the other half of the Kibi Trail.
 * Takahashi — A castle town with the highlight being Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan's only remaining original castles, as well as the highest castle in the country.
 * Niimi — Famous for its two caves; Ikura Ravine and Maki Cave.
 * Tsuyama — Home of Kakuzan Park, where springtime visitors will be treated to Okayama's best place to view cherry blossoms, as well as the beautiful Shurakuen Garden and historic Joto Street.
 * Yakage
 * Ibara
 * Kasaoka
 * Tamano

There are several great day trips outside of the prefecture, too.
 * Fukuyama — Known for Fukuyama Castle and a variety of interesting museums.
 * Takamatsu

title: Kurashiki


text:
Kurayoshi

Kurayoshi (倉吉市) is a city in Tottori Prefecture.

Understand

 * Kurayoshi Tourism MICE Association (倉吉観光MICE協会) has a multilingual guide site.

By car
Visitors arriving by car can park for free at the city hall, just up the hill from the scenic center of town.

By train
Kurayoshi is on the JR San'in Line.

The Super Hakuto express runs from Kyoto to Kurayoshi via Osaka and Tottori. The train takes about 3 hr 30 min.

Get around
Buses from JR Kurayoshi Station run to popular tourist sites.

Parking is also available at all of these sites for tourists visiting by car.

See
Many of the old storehouses (kura) in town have been restored and filled with small shops. There are many narrow canals and waterways winding through the town which is pleasant for a short walk through the Meiji era houses and store fronts.

Buy
Many small craft shops and antique stores fit the retro theme of this town. Antiques can be an especially good deal here if you know what you are looking for.

Eat
A signature sweet of the area is utsubuki kouen dango, and they're available in many souvenir shops.

Go next

 * Yurihama
 * Misasa
 * Daisen
 * Kotoura
 * Yonago
 * Sakaiminato
 * Maniwa
 * Tottori
 * Niimi

title: Kurayoshi


text:
Kurdish phrasebook

Kurdish (Kurdî / کوردی) is the language of the Kurdish people who live in the region known as Kurdistan, which includes parts of four countries Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, as well as a small part of Armenia near the Turkish border.

Kurdish is an Indo-European language, part of an enormous language family that includes many languages of the Indian sub-continent and most of the languages of Europe. Its branch of that family includes the other modern languages Persian, Pushtu and Balochi, but none of those are mutually intelligible. Kurdish is completely unrelated to Turkish and Arabic, though it includes some loanwords from those languages. This phrase book is for the Kurmanji dialect (Northern Kurdish) which covers most of the Bhadinan area of Iraqi Kurdistan and Kurdistan of southern Turkey. Sorani (Central Kurdish) is spoken in most of Iraqi Kurdistan and parts of Iranian Kurdistan, Pehlewani (Southern Kurdish) mostly in Iran. The dialects are not mutually intelligible.

The script of choice for written Kurdish differs according to the country — the Roman alphabet is in use in Turkey, Syria and Armenia while the Kurds of Iraq and Iran use the Arabic script.

Basics

 * Hello.
 * Merheba.
 * Rojbaş.
 * (singular) Roja te bixêr.
 * (plural) Roja we bixêr.
 * (singular) Dema te xweş bit.
 * (plural) Dema we xweş bit.

 * How are you?
 * (singular) (Tu) çawa yî?
 * (plural) Hûn çawa ne?

 * Fine, thank you.
 * (singular) ((Ez) baş im,) (tu) sax bî.
 * (plural) ((Ez) baş im,) (hûn) sax bin.

 * What is your name?
 * Navê te çi ye?

 * My name is ______ . :  Navê min ______ e/ye.
 * Nice to meet you. : Ez gelek kêfxweş bûm.
 * Please. : Zehmet nebe.
 * Thank you. : Spas. :  Destxweş bî!
 * Thank you very much : Gelek spas!
 * You're welcome. : Spasxweş! : Ser çava!
 * Yes. : Erê.
 * No. : Na.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Ca bala xwe bide min! : Ji min re binêre!
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Li min bibore/bibihure!
 * I'm sorry. : Li min bibore/bibihure!
 * Goodbye!
 * (singular) Bi xatirê te! (from him who leaves)
 * (plural) Bi xatirê we! (from him who leaves)
 * Oxir bit! (to him who leaves)
 * Oxira xêrê bit! (to him who leaves)
 * (singular) Oxira te ya xêrê bit! (to him who leaves)
 * (plural) Oxira we ya xêrê bit! (to him who leaves)
 * (singular) (Tu) bi xêr biçî! (to him who leaves)
 * (plural) (Hûn) bi xêr biçin! (to him who leaves)

 * I don't speak Kurdish.
 * Ez (bi) kurdî nizanim.
 * Ez (bi) kirmancî nizanim.

 * Do you speak English?
 * (Ma) tu (bi) inglîzî dizanî?

 * Do you speak Kurdish?
 * (Ma) tu (bi) kurdî dizanî?
 * (Ma) tu (bi) kirmancî dizanî?

 * Who speaks English here? / Who here speaks English?
 * (Ma) li vê derê kî bi inglîzî dizanit?
 * (Ma) li vî cihî kî bi inglîzî dizanit?
 * (Ma) kî li vê derê bi inglîzî dizanit?
 * (Ma) kî li vî cihî bi inglîzî dizanit?

 * Help! : Hawar!
 * Look out! : Berê xwe bide!
 * Good morning. : Rojbaş! :  Beyanîbaş!
 * Good evening. : Êvarbaş!
 * Good night. : Şevbaş! : Şevxweş!
 * Good night (to sleep) : Şevxweş!
 * I don't understand you.
 * Ez te fehm nakim.

 * Where is the toilet?
 * (Ma) tuwalet li kû ye?
 * (Ma) tuwalet li kî(j) derê ye?
 * (Ma) tuwalet li kî(j) cihî ye?

 * Right now.
 * Anihe.

 * I love you.
 * (Ez) hez ji te dikim. (pronounced: Es heş te tkim.)
 * (Ez) hez ji we dikim. (pronounced: Es hej we tkim.)

 * Do you have .... ? : -a/-ê/-ên/-êt te/we/hewe .... heye/hene/heyin? : Te/we/hewe ... heye/hene/heyin?
 * I am hungry. : Ez birçî me.
 * I am a foreigner. : Ez biyanî me. : Ez xerîb im. : Ez ne ji vir im.

 * Please notice: In the Kurdish language, the pronunciation of "x" is not like in English. It sounds like "r" in German. Simply a thick "h" which comes from deep within the throat.

Numbers

 * nîv
 * nîv

 * 0
 * sifir

 * -1
 * kêm yek

 * 1
 * yek

 * 2
 * (di)du

 * 2½
 * (di)du u nîv

 * 3
 * (si)sê

 * 4
 * çar

 * 5
 * pênc

 * 6
 * şeş

 * 7
 * heft

 * 8
 * heşt

 * 9
 * neh

 * 10
 * deh

 * 11
 * yazde(h)

 * 12
 * duwazde(h)

 * 13
 * sêzde(h)

 * 14
 * çarde(h)

 * 15
 * panzde(h)

 * 16
 * şazde(h)

 * 17
 * hefde(h) (pronounced: hevde(h))

 * 18
 * heşde(h) (pronounced: hejde(h))

 * 19
 * nozde(h)

 * 20
 * bîst

 * 30
 * sih

 * 40
 * çil

 * 50
 * pênce(h)

 * 60
 * şêst

 * 70
 * heftê

 * 80
 * heştê

 * 90
 * nod

 * 100
 * sed

 * 200
 * dused

 * 300
 * sêsed

 * 400
 * çarsed

 * 500
 * pênsed

 * 600
 * şeşsed (pronounced: şessed)

 * 700
 * heftsed

 * 800
 * heştsed

 * 900
 * nehsed

 * 1000
 * hezar

 * 2000
 * du hezar

Days
Monday - Dushem

Tuesday - Seshem

Wednesday - Charsem

Thursday - Pencsem

Friday - Ini

Saturday - Semi

Sunday - Yeksem

Colors

 * red
 * sor

 * yellow
 * zer

 * green
 * kesk

 * black
 * reş

 * white
 * spî

 * blue
 * hişîn

Bus and train
Bus : Pass Train : Kitar / Shamenafer

Directions
right: rast Left: cep Turn:bsurewe Go Straight: rast bro Street: sheqam Lane:kolan neighborhood: gerek city: shar Market : bazar

Money
Para or dinar

Eating
Xwardan

title: Kurdish phrasebook


text:
Kurdistan

Kurdistan is a region named after the Kurdish people in the Middle East, divided between Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

The Yazidis are an offshoot of the Kurds, Kurdish speakers who still practice a version of the pre-Islamic Persian religion, sharing a common origin with Zoroastrianism. Most Kurds, however, are followers of Sunni Islam.

Regions

 * Northern Kurdistan or Turkish Kurdistan — parts of Southeastern Anatolia and Eastern Anatolia in Turkey. The Kurdish population also spills across the border into a small part of Armenia, but the Kurdish-majority part of Armenia is not usually considered a part of Kurdistan.
 * Western Kurdistan, Syrian Kurdistan or Rojava — as of 2017, the area is de facto independent from the other contestant forces in Syria. Rojava consists of two disjoint areas along the Turkish border in the northern Syrian Desert and Northwestern Syria, but its borders are very much in flux due to the ongoing war in Syria.
 * Southern Kurdistan or Iraqi Kurdistan — an autonomous part of Iraq. In a referendum held in 2017, an overwhelming majority of the voters opted for the independence of the region, but this has not led to any moves so far. Some of the traditionally Kurdish areas, such as the area around Kirkuk and Mosul, are not part of the autonomous region. Under an informal power sharing agreement that has been in place since Saddam Hussein was ousted, the presidency of Iraq has been reserved for a Kurd.
 * Eastern Kurdistan or Iranian Kurdistan — parts of Iranian Azerbaijan and Western Iran (Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and Ilam Provinces)

Understand
There have been various Kurdish states from the 8th to the 20th century, but never for long a recognised independent nation of Kurdistan. During the Crusades many Kurds were mercenary soldiers (janissaries) for the Seljuk Turks; Richard the Lionheart's most famous opponent, Saladin, was a Kurd.

With current borders, there are predominantly Kurdish regions in four countries; in all four the Kurds have sometimes complained of persecution and the national governments have sometimes complained of Kurdish subversion and secessionism. As of the early 2020s, there are Kurdish regions with de facto independence in both Iraq and Syria, and those are (by Middle Eastern standards) quite stable.

Kurdish militias were prominent in the fight against Da'esh, the so-called Islamic State. Da'esh was particularly vicious toward the non-Muslim Yazidis and took many Yazidi women as sex slaves.

There is considerable tension between Kurds and the Turkish government, though there has not been open warfare since a Turkish offensive in 2019. Many Kurds feel that they were betrayed by the US (in particular, the Trump administration) which accepted them as allies against Da'esh then stood aside as the Turks attacked them.

Buy
The region's best-known products are Kurdish carpets.

Talk
Kurdish is an Indo-European language closely related to Persian. It has three major dialects: Kurmanji or Northern Kurdish, spoken mostly in Turkey, Syria and Armenia, Sorani or Central Kurdish, spoken in most of Iraqi Kurdistan and parts of Iranian Kurdistan, and Pehlewani or Southern Kurdish spoken mostly in Iran. These dialects are not immediately mutually intelligible with each other. The script of choice for written Kurdish also differs according to the country — the Roman alphabet is in use in Turkey, Syria and Armenia while the Kurds of Iraq and Iran use the Arabic script.

Zaza or Zazaki is a related language spoken in parts of Eastern Anatolia in Turkey. While from a linguistic standpoint, Kurdish and Zaza are distinct languages, many native Zaza speakers identify with the Kurds.

Most of the locals are bilingual in the national language of the country they live in: Turkish, Arabic, or Persian. The main exception is in Iraqi Kurdistan, where most people are monolingual in Kurdish. The Kurds of Armenia are often trilingual in Kurdish, Armenian and Russian. There are also minorities with different native languages in the region, such as the Syriac.

Stay safe
Much of the region is prone to ethnic strife, political conflict or is a war zone: do your research well before attempting any visit.

Koerdistan

title: Kurdistan


text:
Kurdufan

Kurdufan, or Kordofan, is a region of Sudan, southwest of Khartoum and east of Darfur.

Cities

 * – in an area also claimed by South Sudan
 * (Al Ubayyid)

Stay safe
See the Sudan article for information on the security situation.

title: Kurdufan


text:
Kardzhali

Kardzhali (Bulgarian: Кърджали; Turkish: Kırcaali), is a city in The Rhodopes, Bulgaria.

Understand
The climate is somewhat similar to the Mediterranean countries which isn't surprising since it is only 35 miles from Greece and Turkey. The landscape is one of mountains and forests of oak and pine. The population of Kardzhali is mixed with 55% Turkish and 40% Bulgarian as of 2011. Both languages are spoken.

Get in
You can easily get to Kardzhali. It is recommended that you arrive in Kardzhali by bus, as there are buses from most of the major Bulgarian cities. From Greece you go to Komotini from where a well-developed road leads to Kardzhali.

See
The region around Kardzhali has numerous ancient sites. Make sure to see the ancient city and fortress Perperikon, the temple and tomb at Tatul and the artificial astronomic cave near the village of Illinica.

Do

 * Football: Arda play soccer in First League, the top tier. Their Arena Arda (capacity 12,000) is 1 km northwest of the railway station.

Buy
In the centre are three big supermarkets and many specialist shops. Also the fruit market is worth visiting.

Eat
Be sure to try their Turkish Biurek (Бюрек), which is something like Banitza. Of course there are many good restaurants offering good food. At least you can always go and eat a pizza.

In the dam lake there are also ship restaurants where customers can choose living fish for their meals.

Sleep
There are several hotels in Kardzhali where you can stay at night. It is not expensive and the conditions are good.

Go next

 * Komotini in Greece
 * Plovdiv (Пловдив)
 * Stara Zagora (Стара Загора)

Getting out is as easy as getting in Kardzhali. There are about 15 buses leaving to Sofia, especially in the morning, so getting out is not a thing to worry about.

title: Kardzhali


text:
Kure

Kure (呉) is a port city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan. It is the third largest city in the prefecture by population, after Hiroshima and Fukuyama.

Kure also administers a number of islands in the Seto Inland Sea, including Ōsakishimojima.

Tourist information sites

 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with links to information in English.

 * The city government's official site has a Japanese-only guide section.

By plane
The nearest airport is Hiroshima Airport, which is less than an hour away by car along the Higashihiroshima-Kure Expressway.

Hiroden Bus runs nine buses a day between Kure and the airport, which take one hour from Kure station (45 minutes from Aki-Aga station) and cost ¥1340 (¥2300 return, valid for seven days).

By train
Most passengers coming to Kure by rail come through Hiroshima, from where there are three Kure Line trains per hour during the day. Two of these are rapid services, taking 35 minutes, while the other is local, taking 45 minutes. Either type costs ¥500.

Taking the Kure Line from Mihara to the east takes 1 hour 45 minutes and costs ¥1140. Usually a change is required at Hiro. Going via Kaitaichi is up to 10 minutes faster, but costs an extra ¥350.

The Kure Line is valid with the Japan Rail Pass, but JR West offer regional passes as a cheaper alternative to Temporary Visitors with foreign passports:
 * The Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass covers much of the JR network around Hiroshima (as far as Miyoshi and Onomichi), as well as all JR stations in Yamaguchi prefecture. It can also be used for the non-reserved seats of all San'yō Shinkansen trains (including Nozomi and Mizuho trains) between Mihara and Hakata, the JR Miyajima Ferry, and some local services run by Chūgoku JR Bus (including services from Kure and Hiro stations to Saijō). It lasts five days and costs ¥11,000 (¥12,000 if bought in Japan).
 * The Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass extends the valid area to Tsuyama and Takamatsu. It can be used on all Shinkansen trains between Okayama and Hakata. It lasts five days and costs ¥13,500 (¥14,500 if bought in Japan).
 * The San'yō-San'in Pass extends the valid area still further to cover the Urban Network area of Kansai (as far as Tsuruga and Wakayama), much of the San'in region, and both reserved and non-reserved seats of the Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. It lasts 7 days and costs ¥19,000 (¥20,000 if bought in Japan).
 * The Kansai-Hiroshima Pass covers the area between Kansai and Hiroshima (including areas of Kansai not included in the San'yō-San'in Pass, such as Shingū and Toyooka), but its western limit is at Iwakuni. It can be used for non-reserved seats of all Shinkansen trains between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima. It lasts five days and costs ¥13,500 (¥14,500 if bought in Japan).

By bus
The Kurea Line (operated by Hiroden Bus and Chūgoku JR Bus) runs very frequently (over 40 buses a day) from central Hiroshima (primarily the Bus Center), taking 40 minutes and costing ¥720 (between Hiroshima Bus Center and Kure Station). It does not serve Hiroshima Station; for there, you will have to get off at Minami-kuyakusho-mae and change there for a tram.

Another option is San'yō Bus's Kamagari-Toyohama-Yutaka Line, which runs from both the Bus Center and Hiroshima Station South Exit to some islands which lie in the Seto Inland Sea east of central Kure. This takes 50 minutes and costs ¥720 to Kure Station, but runs only four times a day.

For Fukuyama and Mihara, consider taking the bus to Hiroshima Airport (mentioned above) and changing there.

Long-distance overnight buses are rare, partly because Kure is so close to Hiroshima. Chūgoku JR Bus runs the Kure-Dream-Osaka-gō as a seasonal service. It also runs (jointly with Odakyū City Bus) the New Breeze, which usually runs between Tokyo and Hiroshima but serves Kure in peak periods.

By ferry
Kure Central pier is next to the Yamato Museum, and 10 minutes walk from Kure Station.

The ferry service run by Seto Naikai Kisen and Ishizaki Kisen is the best way to reach Kure from Matsuyama (and by extension much of Western Shikoku). You can choose between the Superjet (6 services a day, taking just under an hour and costing ¥5550) and the Cruise Ferry (9 services a day, taking just under two hours and costing ¥2670). In Matsuyama, you will have to take a bus or walk 10 minutes from Takahama station on the Iyotetsu Takahama Line to reach the ferry terminal.

It is also possible to take these ferries to Hiroshima Port; the Superjet takes 25 minutes and costs ¥2100, while the Cruise Ferry takes 45 minutes and costs ¥930. Remember that you will have to change to a tram at the port to reach central Hiroshima.

See

 * Maritime museums

Kure was one of the main bases for the Imperial Japanese Navy, and continues to host much of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). In recognition of this history, the city boasts two large naval museums, which are located across the road from one another and a short walk along a covered pathway from Kure's railway station.

Go next

 * Hiroshima
 * Etajima
 * Higashihiroshima
 * Saka
 * Kumano
 * Kaita
 * Takehara
 * Mihara
 * Osakikamijima

title: Kure


text:
Kure Beach

Kure Beach is a beach town near Wilmington, North Carolina – "nice, slow-mo and conservative" in the words of its former mayor.

Understand
Kure Beach (pronounced like "CURE-ee") is just south of Carolina Beach and north of Bald Head Island. Its population of a little over 2,000 grows to more than 10,000 in the summer as beachgoers come to enjoy the waves.

The town is named for the family of the Danish sea captain Hans Andersen Kure, some of whose descendants still live in the area.

Visitor information

 * Town of Kure Beach
 * Official tourism website

Get in
Buses from Wilmington only go as far as Carolina Beach.

By car
Go south from Wilmington.

By ferry
Ferries from Southport go to the Fort Fisher ferry terminal.

Do
Enjoy the beach! The entire town is within a mile (2 km) of the beach.

If you're looking for something less built-up, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area south of town protects almost six miles (10 km) of pristine natural shoreline and hiking trails through the marsh. Wildlife includes sea turtles and piping plovers.

Go next

 * Bald Head Island
 * Carolina Beach

title: Kure Beach


text:
Kuredu

Kuredu (Kurendhoo) is an island located in the Lhaviyani Atoll of the Maldives.

By plane

Flights into Male International Airport are standard as passenger boat services are not operated.

Transfer to the Lhaviyani Atoll, being the northernmost tourist resort in the Maldives, is usually by air taxi (approximately a 40-minute flight). Boat transfers are sometimes available (depending on demand) but this is not recommended as it can take around 4-6 hours and can be very uncomfortable. The sea between atolls can get very rough.

Get around
Kuredu is one of the larger tourist islands in the Maldives, but you can still walk around its circumference (along the beach) in 40 minutes to 1 hour.

There are vehicles on the island but these are generally only used by the staff to transport heavy equipment.Shoes are rarely necessary, even in the restaurant areas. There is a single taxi that runs from morning to 11pm and this can be summoned from any one of the three reception areas to take you to another reception or spa.

See
Scuba diving is the main attraction of the Island and is nothing short of world class. The snorkelling is also very good, but not for the fainthearted. There is a large variety of fish, as well as several species of shark and ray.

Diving in Kuredu is most definitely intermediate to advanced, as the currents can get quite strong in places. The dive staff are extremely competent, however, and will never take you anywhere that they do not think you can handle. Advanced divers should try the 'Kuredu Express' dive site, as there is a very strong probability of Sharks and Manta Rays. The current can get very strong, and visibility poorer than normal, so a negatively buoyant entry is usually required.

The 'lagoon' area of the island (between the beach and where the reef starts) is home to many infant reef sharks and stingrays. Neither of these are dangerous unless you more-or-less stand on them, but they are very beautiful to behold. The Reef Sharks in particular may come towards you, even whilst paddling at the shore edge.

Do
There is a spa located on the island offering various treatments.

Kuredu is one of the only islands in the Maldives to contain a full 9 hole golf course.

Buy
There is a shop selling a few basics (towels, sun cream, hats, souvenirs), but it is very expensive, so it would be best to bring everything you need with you. There is also a dive shop that has a good selection of t-shirts, and some good ex-rental equipment for sale.

Eat
Food in the standard restaurant is varied and good. However, unless you have an all-inclusive package, it is extremely expensive, though lunch is ca. $17 US and dinner ca. $27 US.

There are a la carte restaurants available that you can't use with an all-inclusive option.

Drink
You are not allowed to bring any form of alcohol into the country, but alcohol is served in all the tourist resorts including Kuredu. There are several bars which can get busy at night.

Sleep
Several types of accommodation are available, and most come with a private bit of beach.

title: Kuredu


text:
Kuressaare

Kuressaare  is the capital of Saaremaa, the largest of Estonia's islands.

Understand
The earliest records of Kuressaare is a document written in 1381 that mentions that the town housed the fortified residency of a local Catholic bishop and that it was the main center for the islands of western Estonia. Kuressaare used to be known as Arensburg, and it received city status in 1563. The town has a population of around 13,000 (2018).

By bus
Several buses run daily between Kuressaare and Tallinn's main bus station. The trip takes 4 hours and traverses the strait between the mainland and the islands by means of a 30-minute ferry.

Bus schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia.

Do

 * Health spas. The city has a large number of spas.
 * Football: FC Kuressaare play soccer in Meistriliiga, Estonia's top tier. Their home ground Kuressaare Linnastaadion (capacity 2000) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.
 * Football: FC Kuressaare play soccer in Meistriliiga, Estonia's top tier. Their home ground Kuressaare Linnastaadion (capacity 2000) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.
 * Football: FC Kuressaare play soccer in Meistriliiga, Estonia's top tier. Their home ground Kuressaare Linnastaadion (capacity 2000) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.

Buy
There are several malls around town as well as some smaller shops in the town centre.

 * In the city center, next to the tourist office, is a brown building. There are some clothes shops, a bookstore and a kiosk.
 * In the city center, next to the tourist office, is a brown building. There are some clothes shops, a bookstore and a kiosk.
 * In the city center, next to the tourist office, is a brown building. There are some clothes shops, a bookstore and a kiosk.

Go next

 * Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches.
 * Hiiumaa – Estonia's second largest island.

title: Kuressaare


text:
Kurgan Oblast

Kurgan Oblast (Russian: Курга́нская о́бласть koor-GAHN-skuh-yuh OH-blust') is a region in Russia's Urals region. Kurgan Oblast borders Tyumen Oblast to the northeast, Kazakhstan to the southeast, Chelyabinsk Oblast to the southwest and Sverdlovsk Oblast to the northwest.

Cities

 * - capital city of the region. Great example of Stalinist architecture.
 * — town under oblast jurisdiction.
 * — site of the Dalmat Monastery, once famed as the "pearl of the trans-Urals," which is being restored after Soviet abuse and is again a working monastery.

Understand
Astride the Trans-Siberian Railway and dotted with lakes, Kurgan Oblast keeps itself busy primarily by making automobiles.

Get in
Domestic flights arrive at  from Moscow and Saint Petersburg. International flights are not carried out.

Kurgan train station is one of the principal stops on the South Ural route of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Trains also arrive from nearby cities Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk. It is also possible to arrive by train from northern Kazakhstan.

Kurgan is accessible from federal highways R254 and R354.

title: Kurgan Oblast


text:
Kuria

Kuria (pronounced Courier) forms the central point of the chain of islands in Kiribati. Being the widest island in Kiribati, this allows cooler temperature for Kuria making it a haven from hotter neighboring island. Evidence of this can be experienced during nighttime when cooler temperatures solidify coconut oil. Kuria is also well known as a hone for the first Resident Commissioner, George Mac Ghie Murdoch. His grave, which pays tribute to his service, can still be seen nowadays. Being a home as well of a pair of island, Buariki and Oneeke, Kuria is separated by a channel on a shallow water platform. Itintoa causeway, the best swimming spot on the island, has been constructed on this channel to allow people to walk through anytime. Beautiful fringing reefs can also be found surrounding Kuria, the largest on the eastern side of the islands. Astounding blue lagoons and sparkling white sands are also found here. A taste of true Kiribati culture including its peaceful and congenial setting can only be experienced on these unspoiled and remote coral atolls.

Geography
Kuria is located in the centre of Kiribati and northwest of Aranuka Island. It covers a total land area of 12.3 square kilometres with a population of 1,046 (2015 Census). The main administration centre is located in Buariki. Airport, police headquarters, guest house and Junior Secondary School are also located here. Major administrative activities concerning the island are undertaken on Buariki.

History and culture
Kuria was first sighted by Thomas Gilbert and John Marshall after leaving port Jackson in 1788. In the late 1800s, Kuria was conquered by King Karotu who was actually a King of Abemama. Later, it was then ruled by King Karotu’s nephew, Binoka. Kuria was unified with Aranuka and Abemama during this time and ruled by one person who was also a ruler of Abemama and Kuria. Unification started when a former ruler (Ten Temea) of Kuria and Aranuka gave up these two islands to King Karotu from Abemama and left for Maiana, another of the Gilbert group. In the past and during the time of the white men, animals in Kuria were not considered a welcome addition to the ecosystem. As a result, introduced animals were considered a subject of supernatural fears and were slaughtered and thrown into the lagoon.

Kuria has also been subject to a number of land grabs due to trading purposes.

The sense of community is very strong in Kuria. Islanders know their property very well, down to a single palm tree as well as hereditary land right. The islanders live to share not only for acquiring the blessing of their resources but for their sense of duty to family and friends who are in need.

The ruling system on Kuria came from one chief who was recognized as paramount. When matters arose from the community, the heads of the kaainga (clans) were consulted but were obliged to seek approval of the chief. The chief provided overall leadership and regulated relationship amongst the kaainga. Nowadays, the mayor and the elderly men are the only people who can provide overall leadership and make decisions regarding the people of Kuria.

Dress code is restricted on the island. Casual wear is preferable and women are not allowed to walk around with bikinis, mini skirts and shorts. A skirt/short covered down to your knees or wrapped around sulus and T-Shirts are preferable.

See

 * Escorted from Guest House by an old man or chief Councilor to the South of Buariki
 * Visit Kantoa shrine and leave gifts (MWEAKA) here
 * Visit King’s pond (aia nei Ueea) at Buariki
 * Visit cemetery of George Mac Ghie Murdoch, first residential commissioner for the Central and Southern Kiribati
 * Visit Residence and Office of George Mac Ghie Murdoch
 * Visit Copra Sheds during trading periods. These sheds have hsitrocial significance to the community for having been used for over 100 years.
 * Visit King’s pond at Oneeke
 * Visit Teaki’s site and leave gifts there
 * Leave Mweaka at Nei Teaa shrine located at Teaki’s site

Do

 * Island escort on first day of arrival
 * Picnics at recommended sites (Teaki site, etc)
 * Snorkeling (provide your own gear)
 * Swimming at Itintoa Causeway (the only causeway connecting the two islets)
 * Island trip, either by motorbikes or trucks, to see Colonial relics (cemetery, residence and office of resident commissioner and copra sheds during the trading period)
 * Village walking (sense of community)

Stay safe
Visitors should aware when traveling to Kuria that facilities and services are limited and the island is remote in nature. You will need flexibility in your plans to allow for instances where there may be transport delays. Accommodation is basic and food will be what is available locally. It is highly recommended that you take additional supplies for drinking water. Medical facilities are limited on the island to a local clinic and village nurse. Pharmaceuticals are not available and you will ensure you have any medications you may require and basic medical supplies. Please also ensure you have advised family and friends of your travel plans and when you expect to return. Communications while on the island may be limited, however most villages will have public phone. It is also important to note that as a sign of respect you will need to leave offerings at a number of the shrines you visit. Tobacco/cigarettes are the traditional offering. If you are interested in participating in any cultural activity please have it arranged prior your travel or ask around the local people and they are usually most obliging.

title: Kuria


text:
Kuril Islands

The Kuril Islands (Russian: Кури́лы, koo-REE-lyh; Japanese: Chishima Islands, 千島列島, Chishima Rettō), are a chain of islands in the Russian Far East, located directly to the north of Hokkaido, Japan, east of Sakhalin and southwest of Kamchatka.

Regions

 * Kunashir
 * Iturup
 * Shikotan

Cities

 * – administrative capital of the Kuril Islands.
 * – northernmost town in the Kurils, close to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
 * – Largest town in the Kuril Islands

Other destinations

 * - Impressively beautiful nature reserve, considered the best example of an unspoilt, pristine environment of the same flora and fauna native to Japan
 * - An Island-volcano in the Kurils praised by the Japanese for its near perfect shape, similar to Mount Fuji

Understand

The original inhabitants of the Kuril Islands were the Ainu people, who also live on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, and the Russian island of Sakhalin. With the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Empire and Japan in 1855, the islands were divided between the two countries, then another treaty in 1875 nominally placed the islands under Japanese control. At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union took control of the islands. They were then ethnically cleansed of their Japanese populations in 1947, and thoroughly Russified.

Though still claimed by their former owner, Japan, the Kurils are now thoroughly Russian. Similar to other parts of the Russian Far East, this remote, sparsely populated area has see little industrial development. Most locals make their living fishing in the island chain's abundant waters. The chain's most populated island is Kunashir, centered on Yuzhno-Kurilsk, but its smaller administrative capital Kurilsk is located on the biggest island, Iturup.

Talk
As with the rest of Russia, Russian is the predominant language. Ainu was the historical language of the islands, but the local Ainu have been thoroughly assimmilated into the ethnic Russian majority, and the Ainu language is now extinct in the Kuril Islands.

Get in
Traveling to the Kuril Islands is notoriously difficult. Always plan your trip in advance and make sure that you have at least few extra days on your visa, because weather situation and traffic tend to be unpredictable. Be aware that some essential steps in getting permits and booking tickets can be done on Sakhalin only. Therefore, you will need good friends there, or rather ask travel support from a tour company. Although many travelers try to avoid hassle and go for all-included tours, some of the travel arrangements can be done on your own, which of course cuts the price substantially.

Most travelers visit South Kurils that have fairly bad but at least regular connections to Sakhalin. Northern islands can be reached by occasional boats and helicopters from Kamchatka. The middle part of the ridge is uninhabited and basically unreachable, unless you own a boat, wings, or at least enjoy strong support from the Russian military who are the only people visiting this remote area.

Read the Sakhalin article to learn about flights and ferries to that island (there are multiple connections, so this part is pretty easy). Remember that all transport to (and between) the Kurils is strongly subjected to weather conditions, hence a seamless travel to the islands does not mean that you will easily get back. Always schedule enough time before the next leg of your journey.

Permits
The Kuril Islands are part of the so-called border zone. Access to the islands is restricted for foreigners and locals alike. You will need a permit for: i) entering the islands; ii) occasionally, for buying boat tickets. Permits are issued by the border guard service: While citizens of Russia and Belarus can apply on working days in the morning (9:30–10:30) and collect their permits in the afternoon, the procedure for foreigners is so complicated that it is hardly manageable on your own. As of 2012, you have to submit copies of your passport and visa, invitation letter, application form, and detailed travel itinerary. You can try to submit the documents by fax, or rather go personally. However, you may by asked for a permit when booking tickets, which means that you need the permit several weeks before the trip, and the tour company is the only viable option.
 * Sakhalin branch of Border Guard Service, 63a Pobedy av. (пр. Победы 63а), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Phone: +7 (4242) 49-21-04, phone/fax: +7 (4242) 42-32-59.
 * First, you need a support/invitation letter from any tour company
 * Then you submit the documents to the office of Federal Security Service at 42 Sakhalinskaya St. (Сахалинская ул. 42), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
 * Go to another office at 106A Popovicha St. (ул. Поповича 106А), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
 * Finally, bring all documents to the border guard office at 63a Pobedy Av. and, hopefully, collect your permit in 1-2 working days.

Never try to visit the Kuril islands without a permit! All incoming traffic is meticulously checked. The ferry will usually stay at each island for several hours, but you won't be let ashore unless the permit entitles you to enter this particular island. Naturally, try to get a permit for several islands, even if you are not sure which of them you will actually visit.

By plane
Sakhalinskiye Airlines (SAT) operate flights from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Yuzhno-Kurilsk on Shikotan (4 times a week) and Burevestnik (airport of Kurilsk) on Iturup (3 times a week). The real schedule is determined by weather conditions, though. Both airports lack modern navigation systems and allow landing only in good weather, i.e., no fog, no showers, and no wind, which is next to impossible in this region.

Most travelers describe these flights as a nightmare, because good weather conditions do not guarantee your successful arrival. Flight delays for 3-4 days are not uncommon, so your flight may be taken by those people who were delayed from the previous day(s). The ongoing renovation and installation of new landing systems in the Yuzhno-Kurilsk and Kurilsk airports may mitigate this dire traffic situation. However, as of summer 2012 frequent delays remain an issue.

The flights to the Kurils are listed on the website of Sakhalinskiye Airlines, but you probably won't find the booking option. These tickets are normally bought from local ticket offices: As plane tickets are in great demand, try to buy them at least 1-2 months in advance.
 * Ticket office of SAT, 49 Kommunistichesky Av. (Коммунистический пр. 49), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; phone: +7 (4242) 46-22-88, 46-22-89.
 * Ticket office at the airport, Khomutovo airport, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; phone: +7 (4242) 78-85-74.

By boat
Although boats are more robust with respect to weather conditions, they tend to be even less predictable than the SAT planes. As of 2012, the passenger service is provided by the single ferry Igor Fakhritdinov that departs from Korsakov twice a week, Tuesday morning and Friday afternoon, for a 3-day loop around Kunashir, Iturup, and Shikotan. The route is subject to changes and depends on the weather, freight load, and even on the mood of the captain. The boat can first go to Kunashir (1 night) and later to Iturup (second night), or the other way around. Sometimes it makes simple return trips (weekly to Kunashir/Shikotan and weekly to Iturup) instead of going around the loop. But that's not the only unpredictable point of the journey.

Tickets are sold in the single ticket office: Passport copy is required, booking impossible. The funny thing is that tickets are sold only for the onward journey. And if you think that finding this ticket office is complex enough, the return trip is even more complicated. To get back, you have to put your name into the queue, which is done on each island independently (see individual articles for additional information). Depending on the availability of free cabins, people from the queue can get on board and buy return tickets there. If you are too late, wait for the next boat, or run to the airport and pray for a spare plane ticket.
 * Ticket office of Korsakov harbour 21 Kommunistichesky Av. (Коммунистический пр. 21), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; phone: +7 (4242) 76-25-24, 52-23-52.

The boat features four-bed cabins with shared bathroom (about ₽4000/person one-way, 2012) and a couple of en-suite two-bed cabins (~₽8000/person). Riding without a cabin is not allowed. The boat has a decent and reasonably priced restaurant as well as a pricey bar. They are frequented by locals who spend vacations on the mainland, or fishermen returning from their seasonal work on the islands, so be prepared to active nightlife and heavy consumption of alcohol. Most travelers report that is fun, though.

Eat
Be sure to eat seafood in the Kurils, as the fishing in this part of the North Pacific is considered some of the best in the world. You may well see this seafood available in expensive restaurants around the world offered at prices a hundred times what it will cost to enjoy it here.

Stay safe
This is not a very big problem as not much crime happens around there.

Go next

 * Hokkaido — Japan's northernmost island paradise for skiing, hot springs, and delicious regional cuisine is a relatively short ferry ride away from Sakhalin, although there are no regular ferries between the Kurils and Hokkaido due to the political conflict.
 * Kamchatka — If you have the time to wait and find someone to ferry you from Severno-Kurilsk it's a beautiful destination for outdoors enthusiasts and a worthwhile addition to a Kurils trip.
 * Sakhalin — Russia's largest eastern island is the most convenient point of entry to the Kurils, and the most convenient point of exit.

title: Kuril Islands


text:
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a national park in the very north of the Sydney area in the Australian state of New South Wales, close to Sydney's Northern Beaches

History
The name "Ku-ring-gai" is an ethnonym referring to (a) an hypothesis regarding an aggregation of Indigenous Australian peoples occupying the territory between the southern borders of the Gamilaraay and the area around Sydney (b) perhaps an historical people with its own distinctive language, located in part of that territory, or (c) people of Aboriginal origin who identify themselves as descending from the original peoples denoted by (a) or (b) and who call themselves Guringai.

Little about the original inhabitants was recorded by Europeans at contact and their communities were soon destroyed through disease and conflict with European settlers.

The national park contains extensive evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the area prior to European contact, across more than 800 sites in the park. These include rock engravings, cave drawings, occupation sites, paintings and stencils, axe grinding grooves and middens providing significant evidence of the way of life of the Guringai people.

It was previously underdeveloped by early settlers due to poor accessibility and low soil fertility, except for some of the more fertile ridgetops. Sawmills were established in the 1830s, including at the upper reaches of Cowan Creek where Duffy's Wharf was built to transport logs.

The Pacific Highway and railway built along the ridgetop forming the park's current western border provided access to Cowan Creek along which pioneers settled. 40 hectares at Gerard Point, now Church Point, were granted to James Terry of Gordon.

Following pressure from a local citizen, Eccleston Du Faur, to establish a "National Park for North Sydney", approximately 13,500 hectares, including not only land areas but also most of Cowan Water, was set aside in 1894 as Ku-ring-gai Chase as a conservation area, and placed under the care, control and management of trustees. It is the third oldest national park in Australia, with the Royal National Park being the oldest.

The television series, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo was shot in northern Sydney at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the adjacent Waratah Park. Bushfires ravaged the park in January 1994.

Landscape
Ku-ring-gai Chase is part of the Hornsby Plateau, a massive block of sandstone tilting upwards to the north. The park comprises a plateau with an elevation of generally 150–200 m above sea level. The plateau is divided into separate sections by the steep valleys of Cowan Creek, Coal and Candle Creek, and Smiths Creek. These "flooded" or "drowned" valleys, knowns as rias, were eroded into the sandstone much deeper than the current sea level during the glacial phases of the Pleistocene ice age. When the ice caps melted about 10,000 years ago, the sea levels rose and flooded the valleys of the park.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Rail access is provided at Mount Colah, Mount Kuring-gai, Berowra and Cowan railway stations. All roads in the area are paved and all have collection gates where a daily fee is payable. Do note that going from one section of the park to another may require you to go out of the park and back in. If so, keep your ticket given, and it should say that it's valid until 23:59 that day.

Major entry points by car include Bobbin Head Road, and West Head Road. Access to Akuna Bay is from General San Martin Dr.

The only section where your ticket won't be valid is the Palm Beach section, however, that area is free to access and you won't need a ticket anyway given that the Palm Beach area is very small. You will however, need to pay parking fees for the council parking lot.

Fees and permits
Entry with a car is $12 for a day. For vehicles over 8 seats, the fees $4.40 per adult, $2.20 per child per day.

Get around
Many of the park's attractions are accessible only by walking track. Many kilometres of park front the southern shoreline of Broken Bay making it a good place to explore by boat.

Go next

 * The small town of Brooklyn on the banks of the Hawkesbury River is just to the north of the park

title: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park


text:
Kurnool

Kurnool is a city in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh state. It is home to the 16th-century Konda Reddy Fort.

Understand
This district derives its name from its chief town, Kurnool, the capital of former Nawabs, capital of Andhra Pradesh State from 1953 to 1956, and now the headquarters of the district.

Get in
Kurnool is on NH7 and is well connected to major towns and cities. Kurnool is 210 km from Hyderabad, 365 km from Bangalore and 487 km from Chennai. By bus, it takes 5 hours from Hyderabad, 8-9 hours from Bangalore and 12 hours from Chennai to reach Kurnool. There are few trains to Kurnool from both Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Do

 * Swimming in Mahanandi Kolanu. Here the water is very pure and clean.
 * Very big rock marble of Vrishab at temple premises.

Buy
Gold, jawar (white jonnalu), and sonamasuri rice.

Eat

 * Aalu, tomato mixture behind Head Post Office old bus stand
 * Kerala parota and spicy chicken delicacies in Hotel Elite (Opp Ucon Plaza)
 * Brahmam Neyyi Dosa in Old Town near chinna ammavarishaala
 * Haleem in Hotel International (Only during Ramzan season)
 * Jilebi and papda near Jain Temple Bongula Bazar (only on Sundays)
 * Jonna rotte and talakaya kura in Kurnool Club Canteen
 * Kandi (red gram) kudumulu
 * Natikodi pulusu and jonna rotte
 * Ponganalu at Dyanapriya Hotel
 * Ragi mudda with Natikodi
 * Uggani made with muramaralu (borugulu)
 * Notu kodi pulusu with jawar roti or ragi mudda is a delicious combination

Drink

 * Lassi at Babar Lassi shop near Gadiyaram Hospital and Dilbahar near Lal Masjid is really worth trying.
 * Nannari is a drink consumed cold made from a local herb with medicinal properties. Eswar Soda shop near Shroff Bazar is famous for this.

Go next

 * Alampur (Telangana State) – Jogulamba temple one of the Shakthi peet (26 km)
 * Ahobilam (143 km)
 * Belum caves near Banagana-palle (125 km)
 * Kalava Buggha (27 km in N.H. 40)
 * Mahanandi (90 km in N.H. 40)
 * Mantralayam - Raghavendra Swamy Temple on the banks of Tungabadhra river
 * Nallamala forest - (Srisailam, Mahanandi and Ahobilam are all located within the forest region)
 * Nayanalappa - near Nossam 130 km from Kurnool
 * Ranamandala Hill in Adoni.
 * Rollapadu - sanctuary for the Great Indian Bustard - the largest flying bird (60 km)
 * Srisailam – a Jyothirlingam (Hindu shrine to Shiva), hence an important pilgrimage centre and Shiva Temple (Jyothirlinga temple in A.P.)
 * Sunkesula
 * Tartoor (ranga natha swami temple) 37 km from Kurnool
 * Yaganti -near banaganapalli (73 km from kurnool)
 * Velgode reservoir - Velgode,
 * Hampi once the capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom.
 * Sunkesula Reservoir - Sunkesula (25 km)
 * Rock Garden - near Orvakal (20 km)

title: Kurnool


text:
Kuro

 * For the Kuroshima near Kagoshima, Kyushu, see Mishima Islands.

Kuro Island (黒島 Kuroshima), often referred to by its full Japanese name Kuroshima, is one of the smaller of the Yaeyama Islands of Japan.

Understand
This island is famous for cattle and there are about 3000 cows in this island in spite of the fact that there are only 200 people. This island is completely away from modern life. for example, there are no convenience stores, no signal on the street, etc. There is just one very small general store and a few cafes. What the island does have is a beautiful beach, maybe more beautiful than those on Okinawa Island, and some pretty good snorkeling. Plus, as there are few people on the beach, and it will be rather private.

By boat
There are five to six daily departures from Ishigaki, depending on the season, and the travel time is about 25 minutes.

Get around
Bicycles are the recommended way of getting around the island, letting you get from one side to the other in less than half an hour. Bicycles and motorbikes can be rented at the port. Walking is possible, but takes a lot longer.

See
To begin with, there are cows. Cows, everywhere. If you're from a big city and haven't been around them much, this will get you excited.

Buy
There is one very small general goods store with a small selection of snacks and produce, located at the north end of the village in the middle of the island. You can find it labeled on some of the tourist maps as just "Store". Locals take the ferry to Ishagaki to do most of their shopping.

Eat and drink
There are at least a couple small cafes scattered around the island, but not many. You will probably come across one if you're cycling around.

Go next
Unless you have your own boat, the only place to go from here is back to Ishigaki!

title: Kuro


text:
Kurseong

Kurseong (Bengali: কার্শিয়াং Kārśiẏāṁ) is a town in the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal.

Understand
The town is also known as the "Land of Glorious Sunsets" because it faces the western part of the hills, the sunset is visible through a glorious mix of clouds turning crimson, yellow and red.

The Lepcha name literally means the "white orchid of the eastern Himalayas", which was apparently given by a European researcher who was researching an exotic variety of white orchid that could only be found at the height of Kurseong i.e. 4500 feet above sea level. This variety of the white orchid only grows at this height; hence the name the white orchid of the eastern Himalayas.

Get in
Kurseong is about 45 kilometres from Siliguri the gateway to North Bengal. The airport of Siliguri is known as Bagdogra while the railway station is known as New Jalpaiguri. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach Kurseong if you travel by Hill Cart Road, the comfortable and scenic link running parallel to the railway tracks or about one hour using the Old Army Road (Pankhabari Road), which is steeper.

Get around
You can either walk or flag down mini-vans. These vans show availability if they have a sign-up with their destination (for duty or reserved means you can't flag them down). From Kurseong railway station to Makaibari Tea Estate is around 60 rupees.

See
Kurseong is home to the costliest teas in the world. World-famous Castleton, Ambotia and Makaibari tea gardens produce the most delicate aromas of all black teas known to mankind.

 * Museum of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (on giddha pahar)
 * Park which offers a peaceful respite with two historical schools located there, The Victoria boys school and Dowhill School. The water source for Kurseong is also located near Deer Park and is a popular place for picnics. There is a park there where there are some caged animals for the visitors to see. The deer roam freely in the enclosed boundary.
 * Heritage churches such as St Andrew's church and St Paul's.
 * You can also visit St Mary's Hill and visit the grotto church.
 * Park which offers a peaceful respite with two historical schools located there, The Victoria boys school and Dowhill School. The water source for Kurseong is also located near Deer Park and is a popular place for picnics. There is a park there where there are some caged animals for the visitors to see. The deer roam freely in the enclosed boundary.
 * Heritage churches such as St Andrew's church and St Paul's.
 * You can also visit St Mary's Hill and visit the grotto church.

Do
You just relax or move around the town, tea gardens or the parks. Enjoy the cool mountain breeze. The town is small, clean and relatively uncrowded.

 * You can walk to Eagle's Crag (Durpin Dhara) or trek (or take a taxi) to Deer's Park. Eagles Crag provides a panoramic view of Kurseong Town and the plains of Siliguri.  You can view Himalayan peaks with their golden glow for sunrise.
 * Trek to Balason river, take local advice if you are attempting this.
 * Forestry museum.
 * Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum at Kurseong railway station.
 * This entire scenic route can be travelled (with huge pine trees on each sides and greenery and peace everywhere) from St Marys Grotto till Deer Park.

Buy
One can buy beautiful Tea from either Tea Estate's outlet country or from any number of shops.

Woolen garments, jackets are very attractive and can be purchased from shops located on T.N.Road.

Eat
Most of the hotels have their own restaurants. Road side eateries serve popular snacks like momo and thupka.

Drink
You can try local drinks such as "chaang" prepared from fermented millet and "tongba", another regional drink that is often served with boiling water.

Sleep
Government owned Tourist Lodge and Shyams provide cosy stay.

Go next
Continue with your journey to Darjeeling (about 35 kilometres), to Sikkim or Kalimpong. To catch a train or flight, you have to go to Siliguri. Reserve cars are available from Siliguri, Kings Travels, dial-098304-28401/ 093319–39486.

title: Kurseong


text:
Kursk

Kursk (Russian:Курск, KOOrsk) is the capital of the Kursk Oblast in the Western part of Russia known as Chernozemye region. The millenuim-old city of nightingale song.

History
More than anything else, the city is known for the Battle of Kursk in summer 1943. It did not happen within Kursk itself, but at the nearby village of Prokhorovka, where the Soviet Army won a decisive victory against Nazi Germany, and turned the tide of World War II in Europe. The engagement was the largest tank battle ever.

Get in
By train from Kursky Terminal in Moscow. Firmenny daily sleeper train Solovey #105/106 comes to Kursk early in the morning covering 537km. Other direct destinations are Saint Petersburg, neighboring Belgorod and southern resort Anapa.

Get around
The city's hilly landscape is cut through by rectangular quarters as it was planned by the 17th city engineers. The city's airport is 7km north and serves flights to Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Sochi.

Museums

 * Literature Museum
 * Museum of the Battle of Kursk
 * Museum of the Battle of Kursk

Other destinations

 * Trinity Monastery, built in the early 18th century.
 * Znamensky Cathedral, you will see its blue dome from almost everywhere in the city.
 * Triumph Arc dedicated to the victory in the Battle of Kursk.

Learn

 * Medical University

Go next

 * Maryino - the palace and park of Baryatinsky noble family.
 * Prokhorovka - the greatest tank battlefield in WWII.

title: Kursk


text:
Kursk Oblast

Kursk Oblast is a region in Russia's Chernozemye region, bordering Ukraine to the west, Bryansk Oblast to the northwest, Oryol Oblast to the north, Lipetsk Oblast to the northeast, Voronezh Oblast to the east, and Belgorod Oblast to the south.

Cities

 * — the capital of the region is a major iron ore production center and houses several baroque cathedrals
 * — this "town-museum" has more than its fair share of fine 19th century Russian architecture, including two impressive cathedrals; there are also two important and interesting country manors just outside the town
 * — a little town called "Freedom," home to one of the most famous monasteries in the Chernozemye and to the Kursk Korenskaya Fair
 * - with a very impressive gigantic open-air site nearby (Mikhailovsky iron open cut), where iron ore has been mined

Understand
Although Kursk Oblast is most famously associated with the Battle of Kursk — the biggest tank battle in history — the heart of the battle actually took place to the south of Kursk, near Prokhorovka, Belgorod Oblast.

Kursk Oblast is a major center for iron ore mining in Russia, and one of its most unusual features is the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. The Kursk Magnetic Anomaly is the world's largest such anomaly (a local variation in the Earth's magnetic field resulting from variations in the chemistry or magnetism of the rocks).

Talk
Without any knowledge of Russian it's hard to get around in this region.

title: Kursk Oblast


text:
Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra is a holy city in Haryana. It was the site of a battle described in the Indian epic the Mahabarata. One of the most sacred parts of that story, and one of the most famous passages in all of Hindu scripture, takes place just before the battle. It is called the Bhagavad Gita and is a dialog between the warrior Arjuna and the God Krishna who serves as his charioteer.

Get in
Kurukshetra is approximately north of New Delhi and is most often reached by road or rail from there.

By train
Kurukshetra is a junction on the main track of the Amritsar - New Delhi rail line, 250 km from Amritsar. A train to Kurukshetra can be taken from either New Delhi Railway Station or from Old Delhi railway station, and Nizzamuddin as well. Train takes two and half hours to reach Kurukshetra from Delhi.

By car
The Grand Trunk Road or National Highway No 1 passes by Kurukshetra, so it is easy to reach by road from Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh or New Delhi, and there is also direct connectivity to Haridwar and Patiala. Kurukshetra is about 90km south of Chandigarh.

By bus
You can catch a bus to Kurukshetra from Indraparasth bus station in New Delhi. You can get a bus from Kashmiri Gate Bus station. Travelling from Delhi to Karnal by bus takes normally 3 to 4 hours depending on the traffic conditions in city range of Delhi. You can catch a bus from Chandigarh ISBT and Delhi ISBT.

Get around
Auto-rickshaws (three-wheelers, shared) are the only available option to move around the city.

See

Movies
The city has several cinema halls with the classical single screen format. The city has a single mall named Kessel with 3 screen multiplexes, and another multiplex will be opened shortly in another mall called Divine Business Park.

Eat

 * Chats around Bramha Sarovar and main city (Thanesar)
 * Multicuisine at Kimaya, Mezbaan, Saffron
 * Chicken items at Crown Hotel (Pipli)
 * Chole Bhature on Railway Road
 * Poori with petha and chole in old city (near ambedkar chowk)
 * University Cafeteria for south Indian cuisine

Drink
Parakeet resort (Haryana Tourism) serves hard drinks. There are no objections for guests to bring their liquor and consume it in their room. Most of the hotels follow the same pattern.

Sleep
There are many dharmshalas for a budget accommodations, a few are:

 * Agarwala Dharamshala, near railway station.
 * Brahman Dharamshala, near old bus stand.
 * Jat Dharmashala, near Birla Mandir.
 * Saini Samaj Bhavan

For a better accommodation hotels are:
 * Neelkanth

Go next

 * Chandigarh (95 km by road or rail)
 * Karnal (35 km)
 * Ludhiana (181 km)
 * New Delhi (150 km)
 * Patiala (100 km)
 * Kasauli (138 km)

title: Kurukshetra


text:
Kuruma

Kuruma is a small village in the Konark region of India. Kuruma: A Buddhist Monastery. Its other names are Yama Dharma or Jama Dharma.

Understand
Kuruma is 7.5 kilometers from the world famous Sun temple at Konark. Excavations here have brought to light the reminiscence of some ancient antiquities like the image of Buddha seated in Bhumisparsa Mudra along with the image of Heruka and a 17 metres long brick wall (brick size 22 cm x 17 cm). Scholars are of opinion that this was one of the sites containing Buddhist stupas described by Hiuen T'Sang.

Parswa Devata (God) in the Oriya language is "Jamantaka" & "Abalotikeswar" & "Baman" is called Three Devata (Three Bikdam). This place was surveyed by the Archeological Department in 1971 and there is a big pond known as Jamadharma Pond (the local language is Pokhari).

The village of Kuruma has been inhabited by the Bhuyan family for a long time.

Get in

 * Kuruma Village is on the left side of the Konark-Kakatpur road and is about 7 km from Konark, from Balidokan Chhak and is 2.5 km from the chhak
 * It is approachable by jeep, motorcycle and private bus from Konark.
 * Kuruma is a Block of Kakatpur and Panchayat of Kurujanga
 * Kuruma is known as Japanese language

See
This is a Buddhist monastery having twelve cells and the open courtyard at the centre. The monastery was founded by Mr Brajabandhu Das (a teacher of local school).

Do

 * Buddha Purnima Mahostava (it may be every May 21 & 22)

Buy

 * Artwork
 * Photo of temples
 * Sea shells

Eat
There are no restaurants

Drink
Drink only coconut water for safety.

Sleep
There are no hotels. There is a school named Jamadharma School (for group stays at night only).

And single or two visitors can contact the Bhuyan family for other accommodation.

title: Kuruma


text:
Kuruman

Kuruman is a city of 13,000 people (2011) in the Kalahari district of South Africa. It is known for its scenic beauty and the Eye of Kuruman, a geological feature that brings water from deep underground.

Understand
The abundance of water from the Eye of Kuruman produces an unexpected swathe of green amidst the barren plains known as the Oasis of the Kalahari.

Kuruman was at first a mission station of the London Missionary Society founded by Robert Moffat in 1821. It was also the place where David Livingstone arrived for his first position as a missionary in 1841. The Kuruman River, which is dry except for flash floods after heavy rain (a wadi), is named after the town.

Kuruman lies virtually on the edge of the Kalahari at the foot of a range of low hills. However it has relatively mild weather patterns compared to other Northern Cape towns, such as Upington and Springbok, and is surrounded by more vegetation if compared to Upington and Springbok, which are mostly semi-arid to desert environments.

Get in
Kuruman is on the main route between Gauteng and Namibia/Cape Town via Upington.

There is a small airport at Kuruman, but there are no scheduled airline flights, only charter flights. The closest cities with scheduled flights are Kimberly and Upington, both approximately 250 km from Kuruman.

You can catch an Intercape bus to Kuruman.

There is no train station in Kuruman.

See

 * Moffat Mission
 * Wonderwerk Cave
 * Boesmansgat/Sinkhole at Mount Carmel Farm. This cave is acclaimed the sixth deepest submerged cave in the world – also known as a sinkhole.
 * The Kalahari Meerkat Project, made famous by the television series Meerkat Manor, is nearby.
 * The Kalahari Meerkat Project, made famous by the television series Meerkat Manor, is nearby.

Do

 * Kuruman Hiking Trail
 * Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – where you can take mine excursions
 * Billy Duvenhage Nature Reserve
 * Tswalu Kalahari Reserve – the country’s largest privately owned game reserve
 * Bird Sanctuary – wetland area with grass, reeds and trees. There are about 115 species of birds.

title: Kuruman


text:
Kurume

Kurume (久留米) is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.

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

By train
Kurume is on the JR Kagoshima Main Line.

From Hakata station in Fukuoka there are generally one local and two rapid trains per hour operating to Kurume, with more trains during rush hours. Rapid trains take 40 minutes, and local trains take about an hour, at the same cost of ¥720.

Paying a ¥600 surcharge (¥900 for a reserved seat) will allow you to travel on one of the many limited express trains that operate on the Kagoshima line, which will bring you from Fukuoka to Kurume in half an hour. These trains operate on the same or higher frequency than regular trains, and include the Relay Tsubame for Kagoshima (connecting to the Kyushu Shinkansen), the Ariake for Kumamoto and Hikarinomori, and the Yufu trains for Yufuin, Oita and Beppu.

If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can take any of these limited express trains at no extra charge; for unreserved seating, simply show your pass to the conductor on the train.

Kurume is also on served by Nishitetsu Railway on the Tenjin Omuta Line, stopping at Nishitetsu Kurume station which is about 2.5 km east of the JR station. From Nishitetsu Fukuoka station in the Tenjin area of Fukuoka, take any Omuta-bound train. Train tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines at the station, and cost ¥600. Limited Express trains depart every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour, and take approximately 30 minutes.

By bus
Highway buses bound for Nishitetesu Kurume station can be boarded at Fukuoka airport and run two or three times an hour until 10 at night. One can also board Kurume-bound highway buses at Nishitetsu Tenjin Station or JR Hakata Station. Buses take about an hour to reach Kurume.

By car
If you are driving to Kurume, you will be able to park your car in one of roughly a dozen cheap parking lots, a happy side effect to the Japanese economic depression. Look for parking signs near either of the stations. Expect to pay around ¥100 per hour.

Get around
Although Kurume has the appearance of a city with cramped quarters and tall buildings, it is very small and can be easily navigated by bicycle.

The main bus center is located on the ground floor of the Nishitetsu train station. Buses depart frequently. Although there is no English-language time table posted, a travel agency on the same floor may be able to offer some advice during business hours.

See

 * The largest feature in Kurume is by far the Jibo Kannon Statue, which lies within the grounds of Naritasan Temple. The concrete Kannon Statue is 62 meters tall, and visitors can pay a small fee to go inside the statue and climb stairs to the top for a good if cramped view. Be sure to head to the basement of the statue when you're done, where you can see an animatronic Buddhist Hell, a museum of Japanese mythology, and a small Heaven. This can reasonably be said to be the most interesting tourist attraction in Kurume.
 * For the best (and free) view of Kurume and the Chikugo plain, head to the top of the 20 story city hall. The tallest building for kilometers, Kurume city hall is a five minute walk from JR Kurume Station.
 * There are also a few temples to visit, as in any Japanese city. Bairinji Temple, near the Chikugo River, is home to a small orchard of plum trees which blossom in the early spring. The temple itself has a small zen garden, and is the largest training temple in Kyushu.
 * Also check out Suitengu shrine Located right in the center of town, this is the main temple of all of the Suitengu shrines in Japan and is set in a small grove. This shrine is beloved by all the people of Kurume. Fireworks are held here in the summer.
 * Also check out Suitengu shrine Located right in the center of town, this is the main temple of all of the Suitengu shrines in Japan and is set in a small grove. This shrine is beloved by all the people of Kurume. Fireworks are held here in the summer.

Do
Kurume is host to Japanese festivals and parades, occurring regularly throughout the year. Events usually take place on Japanese holidays, and will include dressing up in yukata, which are cotton kimono worn in the summer, and walking through the hooded shopping street for matsuri games such as fishing and balloon tosses. In the summer, there are also fireworks which will coincide with matsuri events at the local temple.

Buy
A small shopping mall named EMax (エマックス emakkusu) is located above the Nishitetsu train station. Stores include InCube variety store, Quest bookstore, and a variety of clothing stores.

Across the main street from the station is "Ichibangai", a long covered pedestrian mall with stores that change often. There are a few restaurants there as well.

About 10 minutes by bus from the station is one of Western Japan's growing chain-mall locations, YouMe Town (ゆめタウン, yume taun). Take the #20 bus from the Nishitetsu station and get off right in front of the large mall complex.

Kurume is famous for its kasuri - a typically indigo-dyed ikat-weave cloth used to make kimono and other traditional Japanese clothes and goods, though kasuri techniques appear in other famous Japanese fabrics such as meisen, a hard-faced silk fabric that became popular in the 1930s when it was dyed and woven using kasuri techniques to create Art Deco-influenced designs.

You're not likely to find much kasuri in Kurume itself, however. Nearby Yanagawa actually sells more Kurume kasuri than Kurume itself, both in cloth and kimono form, and it looks a lot more like a traditional Japanese town, too.

Kurume is also the home of Bridgestone tires and famous for its ramen noodles, which are available in plentiful supply.

Eat
While at first glance there isn't an abundance of restaurants in Kurume, in reality there are plenty if you know where to look.

In the "Ichibangai" pedestrian mall across from the Nishitetsu Kurume train station, there are 3 or 4 larger Japanese Izakaya restaurants which are worth a visit if you're hungry. They are all right next to the am/pm store.

About one block down from the station to the west is a good Korean restaurant, which can be quite busy on weekends, so you might want to make reservations. Another delicious Korean restaurant named Uji is located in Shojima-machi between JR and Nishitetesu kurume stations. Follow the road south that runs in front of Nishitetsu station past Kogashiramachi park. It is located 2 blocks past the park on the right.

Also, lining the small canal to the west of "Ichibangai" are a number of quaint restaurants, such as Toride (French/Italian), Nixon (fusion) and Le Peu (french), as well as a new Mexican restaurant called "El Sol" a little further away.

There is also an Okinawan restaurant called little Okinawa near St. Mary's Hospital that has occasional live music.

Don't forget to try Taiho Ramen for some of the best Kurume ramen out there.

Go next

 * Yanagawa
 * Chikugo
 * Asakura
 * Tosu
 * Dazaifu
 * Yoshinogari
 * Yame
 * Ukiha
 * Hita

title: Kurume


text:
Kurunegala

Kurunegala is a city in the Wayamba Province of Sri Lanka.

By train
From Colombo prices (Rs.) 1st class 300.00, 2nd class 160.00, 3rd class 85.00. Daily between 1:50AM to 5:36PM, twelve times, one and half hours. To Anuradhapura prices (Rs.) 1st class 320.00, 2nd class 170.00, 3rd class 95.00. Daily between 11:59AM to 10:26PM, six times, two or two and half hours.

Get around
The local three-wheelers (tuk-tuk) are an amazingly cheap and exciting way of seeing the city, and they run well into the night. Negotiate the fee with the driver before you hop in as they do not have meters. A general rule of thumb is USUS$1 per kilometre. Walking is also recommended as the centre is not that large.

Buy

 * Laksal - Janakala kendraya, Kandy Rd
 * Seylin Handlooms - Colombo Rd, Vanduragala, Kurunegala

Go next

 * Kandy is 42 km from Kurunegala. The journey takes about 40 minutes by car along the Kurunegala-Kandy highway. Public/private buses to Kandy operate from the Kurunegala Central Bus Stand located in the middle of the city.
 * Dambulla is reachable within an hour by car from Kurunegala, 52km away. Public and private buses also ply this route.

title: Kurunegala


text:
Khuruthang

Khuruthang is a city in Punakha district located a few kilometers from Punakha.

Understand
Khuruthang is totally devoid of charm and is a monument to brutish concrete architecture. However, as the town is the final destination of shared taxis from Thimphu, independent travelers heading to the much pleasanter Punakha Valley and its famous dzong generally have to pass through here.

Get in
There is a constant flow of shared taxis from Thimphu, which cost around nu300 and take around 90 minutes.

See

 * Khuruthang Lhakhang (temple) is located just below the taxi rank. It is modern and lacks the interesting nooks and crannies of Bhutan's older temples, though it is certainly worth a visit.

Eat

 * There are several nondescript eateries near the taxi rank serving typical Bhutanese dishes.

Go next

 * Punakha and Punakha Dzong are a few kilometres from Kurutahang. There are frequent taxis plying the route.

title: Khuruthang


text:
Kurzeme

Kurzeme is the westernmost region of Latvia, along the Baltic Sea.

Cities

 * – Named "the city of wind", and the southwestern most city of Latvia. Famous for its sandy beach, numerous music events, and the largest organ in the world. It features modern architecture and a long history along with the formerly secret Soviet military neighbourhood of Karosta (literally: War Port).
 * – A modern and artistic sea resort city in the north-west part of Latvia, has many things to see, and is one of the tidiest places in the region. A long-stretching beach and recreational park provide everything for a relaxing holiday week or weekend. It gets its prosperity from the huge ice-free port, which is the busiest port in the Baltic states, and the oil transit business.
 * – The capital of Duchy of Courland, Venice of Latvia, with unique and wooden architecture, red-tile roofs, bridges, cobbled streets, the widest widest waterfall ledge in Europe, and nearby the longest underground (sand) cave labyrinth in the Baltics.
 * – An important cultural, educational, business and trade centre that boasts a very active cultural life, with local musicians, poets, painters and artists. It is home to a music school (1946) and an art school (1984).
 * – A town on nine hills with old town, lake, cobbled streets, picturesque hills, walking trails, and the "Kokletajs" monument (Kokle player).
 * – A town of medieval atmosphere with little irregular streets, old wooden buildings, small lakes and castle ruins
 * – A town with a port and some sights (see below).
 * – A small fishing village with nice beach, camping and museum.

Other destinations

 * – Livonians, a homogenous ethnic group, have survived the longest in Northern Kurzeme. During Soviet times, many Livonians were “pushed out” by the military, due to the strategic importance of the region. The remaining 12 Livonian villages, have managed to survive till today, are: Ovīši, Lūžņa, Miķeļtornis, Lielirbe, Sīkrags, Mazirbe, Košrags, Pitrags, Saunags, Vaide, Kolka and Melnsils. Here you can learn about the history and culture of the Livonia, see an authentic tavern and community house.

Nature and national parks

Understand
The main attraction of this region is the Baltic Sea coast, an end of the world landscape beaten by the winds. The coastal roads allow to appreciate its wonderful landscapes.

During the period of Soviet occupation the coastline was a restricted military area, because it was easy to leave the country on a boat. One could reach Pelēkā kāpa if one didn't leave footprints on the sand. To get around this problem locals wore tin cans under their shoes.

Until 100 years ago the northern coast was populated with a small autochthonous nation called Livonians who spoke the Livonian language, but they were assimilated into the Latvian nation during the 20th century. Many Latvian cities' names have Livonian etymology. The last native speaker of Livonian died in 2013; there are about 40 reported speakers and 210 having reported some knowledge of the language. A traveller may find some remnants of their houses in villages around Mazirbe.

Itineraries

 * Kurzeme coastline: Rīga – Engure – Roja – Kolka – Ventspils – Jūrkalne – Pāvilosta – Liepāja – Nīca. A 400 km route along the Baltic seashore, abundant in natural and cultural heritage, gives an opportunity to learn how locals live and rest at the sea. Apart from many ancient fishermen villages nestled along the seashore, two beautiful cities: Ventspils and Liepāja — are worth visiting.
 * Romantic small towns of Kurzeme: Rīga – Saldus – Skrunda – Aizpute – Pāvilosta – Alsunga – Kuldīga – Sabile – Kandava – Tukums – Rīga. One of the most picturesque routes in Kurzeme, as it offers to see the beautiful nature of Kurzeme, manors, castles and churches surrounded by centuries old trees, ancient Aizpute with its romantic wooden buildings, the sweetest town in Latvia – Saldus, the rich in traditions Suiti region in Alsunga, the old capital of Kurzeme – Kuldiga, and the ancient Abava valley rich in landscapes and cultural heritage.
 * The Green Circle of Northern Kurzeme: Rīga – Talsi – Dundaga – Pāce – Ance – Ventspils – Ugāle – Tukums – Rīga. Northern Kurzeme offers natural diversity – listen to bird songs at Lake Kanieris and Engure, watch the blue cows and wild horses, enjoy the sunrise and the sunset and watch the waves of two seas meet at Cape Kolka etc.

Eat

 * Sklandrausis (or sklandu rausis) is a traditional dish in Latvian cuisine which has a Livonian origin; it's a sweet pie, made of rye dough and filled with potato and carrot paste and seasoned with a caraway. It's widespread in Kurzeme.
 * Many fish dishes
 * biguzis (layered rye bread dessert)
 * bukstiņputra (pearl barley or fine-ground barley with lard and boiled potato)

Livonian heritage

 * For Livonians, fish represented the main foods, particularly flounders and Baltic herring (boiled, baked, salted, dried or smoked).
 * During the 19th and 20th centuries, Livonians also ate porridge (rok), sour porridge (appõnrok) made from wheat flour and milk. Fermented milk was then added to the hot porridge. The porridge was eaten when it was cold and soured.
 * No-yeast buns stuffed with potatoes, carrots and cream (sūrkakūd) were popular. These were baked for celebrations and remain popular today
 * White sausages made of groats (sūrmõd mõka) were an ancient food. The sausages did not involve blood, but they were stuffed into cattle intestines with boiled groats, bacon and onions.
 * Rye bread (riggi lēba) was baked on Saturday and eaten frugally.

Traditional Livonian foods today can be found at the Ūši campsite in Kolka and the Stūrīši-Branki guesthouse in Mazirbe. Some of the foods are also served in Dundaga Castle.

Sleep
In the following a list of various accommodation options in the region worth mentioning and outside of the above covered cities, towns, and parks:

Go next

 * Riga region – Starting or finishing point for most people coming to Latvia, and also home to numerous sights worth visiting, like Riga and its old city, the holiday and sea resort town of Jūrmala, Sigulda and its castles, as well as The Great Ķemeri Moorland.
 * Zemgale – Flattest region in Latvia, and famous for the neighbouring and historically related Jelgava Palace and Rundāle Palace, near Jelgava and Bauska, respectively.

 * Lithuania – Popular sights include Klaipeda with the famous Curonian Spit, Šiauliai with the Hill of Crosses, the interesting Kaunas, and the number one attraction of the Baltics, its capital Vilnius.
 * Kaliningrad – A Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania.

title: Kurzeme