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Segamat

Segamat is a town located in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia.

By road
Segamat is easily accessible via a network of roads. From the Expressway E2, exit the expressway via either Exit 227 Simpang Ampat (from north) or Exit 242 Yong Peng Selatan (from south) before proceeding via Federal Route 1.

For those from east coastal states such as Terengganu, Pahang and Kelantan, you can use the Federal Route 12. Segamat is also accessible for those from southwestern towns and cities such as Muar, Batu Pahat and Melaka via Federal Route 23.

By bus

 * Yow Hoe Bus
 * North West Johore Bus
 * KKKL Express Malaysia
 * Transnasional Express tel: JB 07-224 5182 or 223 7204
 * Cepat Express tel: JB 07-224 7453, Segamat 07-9315260
 * Damai Express
 * Handal Indah tel: JB 07-224 2244 or 227 8514
 * S & S International Express tel: JB 07-222 6246
 * Hasry Express tel: JB 07-223 5355 or 221 5339
 * Causeway Link Express tel: JB 07-224 2244 or 227 8514
 * SE Express

By train

 * KTM

By bus

 * Take SE-001 Muafakat Bus from Segamat Terminal to go around Segamat Town.
 * Take SE-002 Muafakat Bus from Segamat Terminal to go to Buloh Kasap.
 * Take SE-003 Muafakat Bus from Segamat Terminal to go to Jementah.

See

 * Kampong Sri Dagang or Sri Dagang Village

Do

 * Jungle trekking at Bantang River Recreational Forest

Eat

 * Segamat durian (seasonal), found on roadside fruit stalls

Budget

 * Mi Hun Ge (Soup/ Dry flour), 19, Jalan Nagasari 1
 * Chinese Roti Canai, Kampung Tengah. Location: 2°31'53.70"N ; 102°49'36.93"E
 * Cheong Yik Kee Wantan Mee, 12 Jalan Salim, Kg. Abdullah
 * Warung Kg Jawa, Jalan Medoi (Soto Mee/Nasi, Tempe)
 * Warung Usop Ketong, Jalan Muar (Mee Rebus)
 * Kopitiam Zao Chen, 75, Jln Nagasari 14, Segamat Baru (Variety Breakfast & Tea Time)
 * Ho Peng, beside Holland Village (shop) business hour 3AM-10:30AM
 * Holland Village, behind Bank Mualamat (before giant hypermart from north)
 * Happyland Right hand side from the second bridge
 * Newturn Hidden, but ask any local, they will know. Famous stall is Ah Lan's budget noodle soup.
 * Greenland Mostly operated and frequened by older people - there are a variety of food choices
 * Hailam Kia despite the dirty looking exterior, they make the best tea and ying yang (coffee + tea) in town. Great roti toast + butter and kaya. Try the half boiled eggs - they are heavenly. Located near UpWell Shopping center (the row of shops on the right hand side of main door of the shopping place), the coffee shop is next door to a book store
 * Lap Cheong from Lap Chong Auntie Yummilicious home made lap cheong with very little fat. Unfortunately, one needs to be lucky as she make rounds in coffee shops during the day (sometimes nights) as she does not own a shop. She drives a van.
 * Paya Pulai Mamak Burger opposite a row of shops in Taman Pelangi.
 * Mamak stall beside Merrybrown fastfood famous for maggie goreng, mee goreng, etc.
 * Cau Zhou Bah Kut Teh second bridge segamat corner drive straight, its on your left (corner shop)
 * Kuantan Highway mamak stall before traffic light of taman yayasan (right hand side frm JB), corner stall near a mall like restaurant. Famous for roti planta gula.

Mid-range

 * Restoran Haliza, Jalan Aji (Tosei, Capati, Murtabak, Nasi Beriani-Kambing, ayam, daging)
 * Restoran Seri Manis, Jalan Buloh Kasap (Satay, Otak-otak, Seafood, dll)
 * Restoran Asalihin, Jalan Sia Her Yam (Semua masakan)
 * No signature restaurant, near upwell supermart (along Li Chi Primary School Rd), famous dishes such as nestum sotong (squid), lemon honey chicken. Business hour 7PM-11PM.  Book in advance will guarantee a table.
 * Xin Waan Fish Head Restaurant, Chinese restaurant located at Jalan Nagasari 14, Bandar Segamat Baru (opposite of Masjid, near Chinese Guan Ti Temple and Indian temple). Famous dishes Fish Head Steamboat. Booking available.

Drink

 * Kedai Kopi Teng Li - Coffee shop with home-made kaya. It's located at Segamat Baru.
 * Nan Yang Coffee Shop - Don't miss the local coffee and toasted bread filled with butter and kaya (coconut-egg jam) if you visit to this Chinese cafe located at the center of Segamat old town. But the lady boss was unfriendly
 * Old Taste Kopitiam- The best Ipoh white coffee in town.

Go next

 * Gunung Ledang - Located about 30 km from Muar town, Gunung Ledang (formerly Mt Ophir) is well known for the Legend of Gunung Ledang story of the mystique Puteri Gunung Ledang, entwined with its mysterious tales of supernatural encounters among the locals besides its beautiful natural attraction. Standing at 1,267m, Gunung Ledang is Johor's highest mountain and it can be accessed both from Johor (Sagil) and Melaka (Asahan). There are nice camping sites by the side of waterfall at the mountain foot and those who are adventurous can take up the challenges to climb to the peak of the mountain. The journey to the top will take approximately five hours through the dense but scenery virgin jungle. There are 2 options of access to the mountain top and mountain foot lodgings available by 2 different managements namely; Gunung Ledang Resort and Taman Hutan Lagenda-Taman Negara Gunung Ledang. Gunung Ledang can be reached by buses that run between Tangkak and Segamat by getting off at Sagil. Its best to arrive at Gunung Ledang during daylight hours, stay overnight and start the hike early next morning.

title: Segamat


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Segou (region)

Segou is a region in Mali named after the largest city within the region.

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

title: Segou (region)


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Segovia

Segovia is a town of 52,000 people (2018) in Castile and Leon. The city is famous for its historic buildings including three main landmarks: its midtown Roman aqueduct, its cathedral (one of the last ones to be built in Europe following a Gothic style), and the castle, which served as one of the templates for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle. The city centre of Segovia was declared a in 1985.

Understand
The economy of Segovia revolves around metallurgy, agriculture, furniture, construction and, particularly, tourism. The town plays host to thousands of day-visitors from Madrid each year due to its popular attractions.

Get in
Segovia has two railway stations, both to the south of the city.
 * High-speed AVE trains use the new, 5 km away. These take 30 min to Madrid Chamartin and 40 min to Valladolid, fare €15 one-way. They run every hour or so, more often for commuters mornings into Madrid and evenings coming out. The AVE station has frequent buses to the centre (€2): Bus 11 to Plaza Artilleria beneath the Aqueduct, and Bus 12 to the main bus station, both every 20 min.

 * is only 1 km from the centre, but nowadays has only two trains per day. These are regional trains taking two hours from Madrid Atocha, via Chamartin and Cercedilla, fare €9 one-way. Bus 8 runs past the railway station to town centre.

Buses between Segovia and Madrid (Moncloa bus station) run once or twice an hour, taking one hour, fare €10. Buses also run to Avila (one hour) and Salamanca (3 hr 30 min). The bus operator is La Sepulvedana. is on Paseo de Ezequiel Gonzalez, 300 m south of the Aqueduct.

The nearest airport is Madrid Barajas, 100 km south - change at Chamartin between Metro and mainline trains.

Get around
The walled Old Town is easily accessible on foot. Most of it is pedestrianised, and no traffic passes beneath the Aqueduct, which thus divides the city. At the foot of the Aqueduct east side in Plaza Artilleria is an underground parking lot (€2/hr). Bus 9 starts from here to make a circuit of Old Town, daily every 30 min from 11:00 to 19:30, fare €1. West side in Plaza del Azoguejo is a Tourist Information Centre, with another in Plaza Mayor.

See

 * The easiest way into the walled Old Town from Plaza del Azoguejo is to walk up Calle Cervantes. Halfway up, note Casa de los Picos ("The House of the Points"), a 15th-century mansion with a facade studded with granite pyramids.
 * The easiest way into the walled Old Town from Plaza del Azoguejo is to walk up Calle Cervantes. Halfway up, note Casa de los Picos ("The House of the Points"), a 15th-century mansion with a facade studded with granite pyramids.

Do
Ski: Two small resorts in the hills nearby are and.

Buy
You can buy nice pottery, typical not only of Segovia but of Castile as a whole. Take a look at the botijos, for storing fresh water.

Eat
Segovia cuisine is typical of Castille. Favourites are slow-roast suckling pig (cochinillo), roast lamb, veal & beef, sausages, fish (notably verdel, smoked mackerel), judiones bean stew, and salads. For afters, typical desserts are ponche segoviano and natillas.

Budget & quick eats:
 * Lots and lots of Tapas places.
 * Lots and lots of Tapas places.
 * Lots and lots of Tapas places.

Mid-range & splurge:

Out of town:
 * The Parador restaurant is excellent, see "Sleep" entry.

Drink
Try the red wine and the "Ribera del Duero" in particular. There are also good white wines which are perfect with a good fish dish. If you have to drive, the bottled water is also excellent. Moreover, for people who like them, strong liquors are offered at the end of a good meal, after the almost mandatory coffee. Segovia city also has the DYC whisky distillery. The 8-year-old whisky has a good reputation among the local population.

Near the Plaza del Azoguejo you will find a number of nice bars.

Go next

 * Ávila, 70 km west, is a charming walled old city. Another 100 km northwest brings you to Salamanca.
 * Old cities of Castile and Leon are Valladolid, Burgos, and Leon.
 * El Escorial is easily reached off the road south to Madrid.
 * Reaching Barcelona, the Med coast, or Andalusia will involve travelling via Madrid.

title: Segovia


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Seguin

Seguin is a city in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas.

Go next

 * New Braunfels - Located 15 miles northwest of Seguin, this town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
 * San Marcos - 20 miles north of Seguin, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops, as well as stretches of river in a more natural state.

title: Seguin


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Seillans

Seillans is a village in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France classified among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France).

Understand
Seillans is a small village in the Var region of Provence, in the south of France. It is mostly popular during the long, summer months, which mean that the most popular time of year for visitors is between May and September, where temperatures are high and the days are long. Seillans is one of the so-called 'perched villages' of Provence which are named this way because of their location at the top of hills. Seillans was home to Max Ernst, a German painter who fell in love with the region and the town. Another perched village, Montauroux can be seen across the valley from Seillans.

Go next
Nearby are:
 * Bagnols-en-Forêt 20 km
 * Bargème 33 km
 * Callas 18 km
 * Cannes 46 km
 * Claviers 14 km
 * Fayence 7 km
 * Fréjus 38 km
 * Gourdon 46 km
 * Grasse 31 km
 * Mons 14 km
 * Montauroux 12 km
 * Saint Cézaire Grottos
 * Saint Cézaire-sur-Siagne 35 km
 * Saint Paul-en-Forêt 13 km
 * Saint Tropez 72 km

title: Seillans


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Seinäjoki

Seinäjoki is a city in Southern Ostrobothnia. Seinäjoki is the biggest city and the centre of the Region of South Ostrobothnia, in western Finland. It is in the junction of five railways and at the intersection of several main roads. Peräseinäjoki, Ylistaro and Nurmo have been merged into Seinäjoki. The municipality of Isokyrö (Storkyro) is handled in this article too.

Understand
At the beginning of the 1900s, a railway connection was established to Seinäjoki, which meant rapid development of the area. Seinäjoki railway station became an important railway hub.

In the early 1900s, several factories were also established in Seinäjoki. With the factories, industry in Seinäjoki grew rapidly and the town became a major industrial city.

In the urbanisation of the 1960s, Seinäjoki grew dramatically. Seinäjoki became the centre of the region, with a wide range of services and good job opportunities. In 1960 Seinäjoki became a trading town and in 1967 a city.

By train
The easiest way to come to Seinäjoki is by train. If you take the fastest Pendolino trains the trip takes roughly three hours from Helsinki or Oulu and just over one hour from Tampere.

By bus
There are coach connections from Helsinki via Tampere (mostly Onnibus), from Vaasa (several companies) and from Pori. See Matkahuolto for timetables.

By plane
Seinäjoki Airport, located in the Ilmajoki municipality, is nowadays used only for some charter flights. The nearest airport with regular flights is in Vaasa.

There are daily regular flights to Vaasa airport from Helsinki (Finnair) and Stockholm, Sweden (SAS). An on-demand airport shuttle bus of Pahkakankaan Liikenne operates between Vaasa airport and Seinäjoki railway station. The shuttle bus can be pre-ordered at latest two days before arrival or departure (phone [tel:+358456453811 +358 45-645-3811], also SMS and e-mail orders are accepted, e-mail [mailto:posti@pahkakangas.fi posti@pahkakangas.fi]. The ride from Vaasa airport to Seinäjoki railway station costs €19 per traveller.

By car
Roads come in from all directions, as Seinäjoki is one of Western Finland's most important road junctions. Seinäjoki is about one hour's drive from Vaasa, and two and a half hours from both Tampere and Jyväskylä.

Isokyrö and Ylistaro are on the road from Vaasa, Peräseinäjoki to the south, Nurmo just north-east of the centre.

By foot
Seinäjoki is small enough that most of the things to see are easily reached by foot. When you exit the railway station, you will be facing the centre.

By bus
Härmän Liikenne offers local bus connections on weekdays and Saturdays but on Sundays there is no traffic. Route planner is available. The Routes and Tickets app may also be usable.

City of Seinäjoki operates on-demand minibus in Seinäjoki city and nearby region M-F 08:00–17:00.

Coaches can also be used; on Sundays they are the only form of public transport available. To go west you can use coaches to Teuva, Kauhajoki and Närpiö, and to go east, coaches to Karstula, Vimpeli and Kuortane.

By electric kick scooter
German Tier rents electric kick scooters for use in the centre.

By taxi

 * Keskustaksi, Taksini: see Southern Ostrobothnia
 * Isokyrö:
 * Puputaksi info@puputaksi.fi@undefined
 * Paulan Pirssit
 * Marja Mullola, Alariihitie 1
 * Tapio Lae Oy info@tapiolaeoy.com@undefined
 * Smartphone apps: 02 Taksi, Valopilkku

By bike
Easybike offers city bikes for rent.

See

Do

 * Football: SJK (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho) play soccer in Veikkausliiga the top tier. Their home ground OmaSP Stadion (capacity 5800) is 1.5 km west of town centre.
 * Football: SJK (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho) play soccer in Veikkausliiga the top tier. Their home ground OmaSP Stadion (capacity 5800) is 1.5 km west of town centre.

Tangomarkkinat
The Tango Festival gathers a huge crowd of over 100,000 people every year. There are several tango dance floors around the festival area – either in front of the stages or in some karaoke bars – as well as several events to please different kinds of tastes. There is even a “Tango-free Zone”, with rock and jazz concerts. People can enjoy the daily Tango parade, the Tango Street, and tango shows in the theatre and in the Seinäjoki Arena. It pays to schedule what you want to experience.

The event takes place every year since 1985, during the month of July, usually from Wednesday to Sunday. This is the Tango event with the most tickets sold worldwide. It is incredible to see thousands of people dancing in the streets, especially at the Tango Street (Tangokatu). Most of them start dancing at around 17:00 until 03:00.

The coronation of the Tango King and Queen is one of the most important and emotional parts of the event. These figures receive much domestic media attention and often recording contracts as well and they also perform their own shows at the tango Festival the following years. They will be fully booked to dance pavilions and other stages through the rest of the summer, and for some time onwards.

Besides the opportunity for dancing and the Tango Royalty contest, another purpose of this festival is to show new ways to do tango and to erase the idea that Tango has to be in the traditional style. There are many innovations, such us combining Finnish folk and tango, or jazz and tango, electronic tango and so on.

Many artists from around the world come to perform in this festival, including Argentinean tango artists.

It is a great experience to be in the Tango Street and feel the excitement of people. They are dancing from 17:00 until 03:00. Couples have the chance to be reunited, beginners to learn and practice the basic steps and friends to have a lot of fun. It is even hard to get tired because even the sun goes down after 23:00, the day light stay all night long, so before you know it is 02:00 or 03:00 in the morning. There are rock and jazz shows in bars and nightclubs, especially popular with the youth.

You have the choice of staying at one of the hotels or, as the majority does, bring a camper and park at the camping sites near the centre and just enjoy the spectacle from morning to late night.

Buy

Go next
From Seinäjoki there are easy train connections to the rest of Finland.

 * Ilmajoki, a neighboring municipality

title: Seinäjoki


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Seine Bight

Seine Bight is a village on the resort of Placencia peninsula in Belize.

Get in
Either you fly in via Tropic Air or Maya Air (Placencia Airport) and then take a cab to Seine Bight (about 5 min) or you take the bus. When you come from Belize City you will have to change buses in Dangriga (4-5 hours) or you rent a car and drive down.

The Placencia Peninsula Road has been paved already between Maya Beach and Placencia (July 2009). However the rest of the road, about 15 miles, is still unpaved but in good conditions.

Get around
Seine Bight stretches a few miles along the peninsula. You can easily walk around, stroll on the beach or ride your bike. Car rental companies are at the Airport Placencia, 2 miles south of Seine Bight.

Do
Relax on the beach or book tours to Maya Ruins, into the jungle or go diving on the second largest barrier reef.

Buy
Everyday Supermarket (very day till 9PM) is very clean, well stocked and the staff is extremely friendly. It is in the center of Seine Bight on the main road.

There is also a vegetable shop and other very small grocery stores in Seine Bight.

Visit also Lola's Art to shop for your souvenirs. Lola is a painter and well recognized in Belize.

Eat
There are a few places which offer a very nice setting, excellent cuisine and great service. Eat at Danube, the Austrian restaurant south of Seine Bight, at Nautical Inn, just north of the center or at Blue Crab Resort, half a mile north of the center.

A bit further north or south you will find resorts with excellent cuisine as well.

However there are a few local places or street vendors offering rice, beans and stew chicken or fish.

Vern's is a good option for authentic, local fare in a tin-roofed, screened porch setting, with the barbecue alongside the street.

Visit also Goss Chocolate factory. Its chocolate is handmade from 100% organic grown cacao. Look out for the golden wrapped bars.

Drink
Try out Wamasa´s for a bitter and a Belikin and chat with the locals.

Sleep
In and around Seine Bight there are a few excellent resorts. No matter if you like high-end luxury or simple and clean beach cabanas, you will find it here.

title: Seine Bight


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Seishun 18 Ticket

The Seishun 18 Ticket (青春１８きっぷ Seishun jūhachi kippu) is a discount rail ticket offered by Japan's JR network. When available (three times a year, on 136 days in total), it is easily the cheapest way to get around Japan, costing only ¥12,050 for five days of unlimited travel — but only on local and rapid trains (no limited express or Shinkansen lines).

JR argues that "in general, the Japan Rail Pass offers a much better deal to almost all foreign travelers". However, the two are hardly comparable for a number of reasons. The Japan Rail Pass, which offers unlimited travel on almost all JR trains for a 7, 14, or 21-day period, caters to tourists who are planning to visit various points in Japan, and who want to save as much time as possible along the way. It costs much more than the Seishun 18 Ticket, but allows holders to use limited express and Shinkansen trains that can be considerably faster.

The Seishun 18 Ticket, on the other hand, caters to budget-conscious travelers who are willing to sacrifice speed for the ability to get just about anywhere in the country for under ¥5,000. In fact, its name means "Youth 18", and its main target audience is college students. However, anyone can purchase the ticket, regardless of age, student status, residence status, or nationality.

If you're planning on traveling in Hokkaido or Eastern Japan (Tohoku, Kanto and the eastern Koshin'etsu side of Chubu), also consider the very similar Hokkaido and East Japan Pass (covered below), which fills in a few gaps in the JR network and is valid for a longer period of time but adds some extra restrictions.

Using the ticket
The ticket is actually five one-day passes condensed onto a single piece of ticket stock. When using the ticket for the first time, the passenger presents it at the manned ticket gate, and the employee on hand stamps the ticket, making it valid on every non-express JR train until midnight. After midnight, the ticket becomes invalid unless it is stamped again. The ticket has spaces for five stamps, after which it is invalid.

More than one person can travel on the same ticket: each of the five spaces on the ticket allows one person to ride for one day. For instance, if two passengers were using the ticket, the ticket would be stamped twice; at the end of the day, both passengers could use the ticket for another day and have one stamp space left over, or one of the passengers could use the ticket for three days. Likewise, a group of five could travel for one day on a single ticket: the cost would be only ¥2,410 per person, which, for example, is more than 70% off of a regular one-way fare between Tokyo and Osaka.

The ticket cannot be used on super express, limited express, or sleeper trains, or on any train part of the Shinkansen network. This is the main catch to the ticket, and the main reason why many travelers may prefer to use the Japan Rail Pass. When using the Seishun 18 Ticket, you are restricted to local (普通 futsū), rapid (快速 kaisoku) and super/special rapid (新快速 shin-kaisoku) trains, which are designed for regional trips, not cross-country travel. Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto, for instance, takes as little as two and a half hours on the Tokaidō Shinkansen, but takes nine hours on rapid trains. The upshot to this is that you can stop in various towns along the way: taking a full day to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, you would have enough time to visit Odawara, Nagoya, and other cities along the Tokaido Line.

There are a few exceptions to the above rule, which allow passengers to travel across two areas that have no local rail service:

 * Shinkansen trains have now replaced regular trains through the Seikan Tunnel to and from Hokkaido, but Seishun 18 Ticket holders cannot use the Shinkansen. Thankfully, JR sells an option ticket (北海道新幹線オプション券 Hokkaidō Shinkansen opushon-ken) as an add-on to the Seishun 18 Ticket for ¥2,490. This special ticket will allow trips in any available standard class seat on Hokkaido Shinkansen trains between Okutsugaru-Imabetsu (the last Shinkansen stop on Honshu) and Kikonai (the first such stop on Hokkaido). It also covers travel on the private South Hokkaido Railway (Dōnan Isaribi) Line between Kikonai and Goryokaku, where the rest of the local JR network can be accessed. You must be in possession of a valid Seishun 18 Ticket to purchase and use the option ticket.
 * Travel is permitted in non-reserved seating on Sekisho Line limited express trains between Shintoku (新得) and Shin-Yubari (新夕張), part of the route between Sapporo and Obihiro in Hokkaido.
 * Travel is permitted on local and rapid trains of the Aoimori Railway in northern Tohoku. Ticket holders can only travel to and from Hachinohe, Noheji and Aomori with no intermediate stops. If you enter or exit the Aoimori Railway at another station, you will have to pay the applicable Aoimori Railway fares. The Ominato Line, which runs from Noheji, is operated by JR and can be used for Seishun 18 journeys. Note that the line from Morioka to Hachinohe, which is operated by IGR/Aoimori, is not covered and requires a regular ticket (¥3,110).
 * Travel is permitted on local and rapid trains of the Ainokaze Toyama Railway between Toyama and Takaoka without getting off, since two JR lines – the Johana and Himi lines – start in Takaoka.
 * Travel is permitted on local and rapid trains of the IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata without getting off, since the JR Nanao line starts in Tsubata.
 * Travel is permitted on local rapid trains of Hapi-Line Fukui between Tsuruga and Echizen-Hanandō without getting off, since the JR Kuzuryū (Etsumi-Hoku) Line starts in Echizen-Hanadō.

Some other express trains in remote areas may also be ridden for the price of a seat reservation. Typically, this is around ¥250, and would be noted in the timetable books. Ordinary car seat reservations with the Seishun 18 Ticket on local, rapid or special rapid services can be made, if the required surcharges are paid (an example is the Marine Liner rapid service between Okayama and Takamatsu).

 * Travel is permitted on Local and Semi-Express of Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line between Kitasenju and Ayase without getting off, since Chiyoda line is regarded as JR Jōban Line.

The JR ferry between Hiroshima and Miyajima is covered by the ticket, but JR buses are not.

Availability
Seishun 18 Tickets are usable during Japan's three major school holiday periods, which are generally as follows (be sure to confirm specific dates, which can change year-to-year):

A ticket can be purchased from any JR Ticket Office (みどりの窓口 Midori no madoguchi), and customers buy as many as they wish. If using an automated machine (みどりの券売機 Midori no kenbaiki), tickets can only be purchased if the machine is set to Japanese; if the UI is set to English or another language, the option will not be available.

See the Alternative passes section below for other Seishun 18-like tickets with different sale times and validities.

Discount Ticket Shops
The ticket can also be purchased from discount ticket shops at a small discount (¥300–500). These shops often offer partially-stamped tickets, as well, for those who may not want or need the full 5 days, or need just a couple extra on top of the 5 that the standard ticket comes with. Expect to pay a higher per-day price when buying a partially stamped ticket – it can go as high as ¥3,500 for a ticket with one day left. The price slowly goes down toward the end of the effective period – say, ¥2,000 three days before expiration. Additionally, these shops are all cash-only.

You may also sell partially stamped ticket to these shops – get several thousand yen back and help another budget traveler. The sooner the better, because of price erosion and possible rejection; shops stop buying tickets about one week before expiration. However, you will need the help of a Japanese citizen or resident as non-resident foreigners are not allowed to sell to ticket shops.

Usage
Most Japanese people using a Seishun 18 ticket consult a national railway timetable to determine which trains to take and which connections to make. For tourists who can't read Japanese, the best alternative is the Navitime website, which provides electronic railway, airline, and bus schedules for the entire country. (Be sure to uncheck all of the boxes before running your search, or else your itinerary will probably include trains that you can't take with the Seishun 18 Ticket.) The general rule is, you can take JR trains that don't require a separate limited express fare supplement. Liner trains can be taken if you purchase the Liner fare supplement.

Tokaido Line

The Tokaido Line is undoubtedly the easiest line to travel with a Seishun 18 Ticket, and probably one of the most convenient for tourists because it forms the shortest link between Tokyo and the Kansai region. Trains run every 15 minutes or so during the day, making it easy to take breaks en route without running over schedule. It takes about nine hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, not including rest or meal stops; this requires about 4-6 transfers along the way depending on when you travel. These transfers will most likely occur in cities such as Atami, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Ogaki, and Maibara. From Maibara, you can go north to the Hokuriku Region or continue west. There are trains that run all the way from Maibara to Himeji and Banshu-Ako (Ako) on the Sanyo Line. Tokyo to Nagoya takes about 6 1/2 hours without stops.

Sanyo Main Line
The Sanyo Main Line is the westward extension of the Tokaido Main Line, connecting the Kansai region to Okayama, Hiroshima, and Kitakyushu. It is not quite as convenient as the Tokaido Line, but generally runs at least every half hour (with frequent service around Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka). Shin-Kaisoku Trains can travel from Maibara (on the Tokaido Main Line) all the way to Himeji before a transfer is necessary. Osaka to Hiroshima is about 6 hours; Hiroshima to Fukuoka is another 6 hours.

Shikoku
Those wishing to visit Shikoku must transfer at Okayama to the Marine Liner. The Liner is covered by the pass, as long as you remain in the non-reserved section. The Yosan Line, Yodo Line, and Dosan Line travel in a circle from Kagawa to Ehime (Yosan), Ehime to Kochi (Yodo), and Kochi through western Tokushima and back to Kagawa (Dosan). The Uchiko Line in Ehime is the only additional line along the route and provides access to the historic town of Uchiko. Many Seishun travelers use this as their "Golden Route" around Shikoku to visit the most famous locations, such as Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Uwajima, Kochi, and the Iya Valley as a single Shikoku Seishun 18 trip.

Additionally, the Tokushima Line connects Awa-Ikeda Station (Miyoshi) to Tokushima, the Kotoku Line connects Takamatsu to Tokushima, and the Mugi Line gives access to southern Tokushima Prefecture from Tokushima City. The Kuroshio Railway lines in Kochi Prefecture are private railways not covered by the pass.

Trains in Shikoku are less frequent, so it's important to plan ahead and be aware of train times when traveling to multiple cities around the island. The Yodo Line between Ehime and Kochi is particularly sparse of options. Missing your connection could leave you stranded for hours waiting for the next train.

Chuo Main Line
The Chuo Main Line is a Y-shaped line through the Japan Alps, connecting Tokyo and Nagoya via Shiojiri. Although the Chuo Main Line can be used for travel between Tokyo and Nagoya, the Tokaido Main Line is faster. The corridor between Kofu and Nakatsugawa are very rural, so train connections are infrequent. Because of this, the Chuo Main Line is only recommended over the Tokaido Main Line for those who plan to stop at locations along the way or those wishing to travel travel further north to Matsumoto and Nagano which can be reached by transferring to the Shinonoi Line at Shiojiri. You can reach Nagano from either Tokyo or Nagoya in approximately 6 hours.

Hokuriku Line
Since the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March 2015, the Hokuriku Main Line has been greatly shortened. It now extends from Maibara to Kanazawa. The rest of the former line (from Kanazawa to Naoetsu) is now run by private railways. This has disconnected some JR lines from any connections with a JR station. Deals were reached with the private railways to allow passengers to use the private railways without charges only if they get off at stations where a JR transfer can be made (Tsubata Station for the JR Nanao Line, Takaoka Station for the Himi Line and Johanna Line, and Toyama Station for the Takayama Line). If you get off at any station that does not have a JR connection, you will be charged.

Tohoku Line
The Tohoku Line follows the Pacific coast north from Tokyo to Sendai and Aomori. It is about 7 hours from Tokyo to Sendai, and another 9 hours from there to Aomori. Outside of the Tokyo and Sendai metropolitan areas, services are relatively infrequent, running on an hourly or bihourly basis.

Travelling to Hokkaido
To travel to Hokkaido, you must purchase a ¥2,490 option ticket described earlier in this article which will grant you access to the Shinkansen for only the segment through the Seikan Tunnel.

Be warned that the train schedules in northern Japan, particularly in Hokkaido, are very limited. You'll want to use a timetable or site like Navitime to plan your itinerary. If traveling between Aomori and Sapporo, you can expect the trip to take two days.

Here are some of the basic routes to use from Sapporo down to Hakodate, Aomori and Niigata:

 * From Sapporo to Hakodate, take the Chitose Line to Tomakomai (1.5 hours), then the Muroran Line to Oshamambe via Higashimuroran (just over 3 hours), then the Hakodate Line to Hakodate (about 4 hours).
 * From Hakodate to Kikonai, take the private South Hokkaido Railway Isaribi Line, covered by the option ticket (1 hour).
 * From Kikonai to Okutsugaru-Imabetsu, which is only served by the Shinkansen, the option ticket permits you to take any available standard class seat on the Hayabusa or Hayate Shinkansen service (40 minutes). There are seven daily round-trips that operate between the two stations at about 2–3 hour intervals.
 * From Okutsugaru-Imabetsu, walk a short distance to the nearby Tsugaru-Futamata station and take the JR Tsugaru Line to Aomori (1.5–2 hours; change of trains may be necessary).
 * Note: Service has been suspended at this station since August 2022 due to damage caused by heavy rainfall, and there are no plans to restore service. Hourly bus service runs from Tsugaru-Futamata to Kanita station, the northernmost stop on the Tsugaru Line which is still operating.
 * From Aomori to Akita, take the Ou Line via Hirosaki, Odate, and Higashinoshiro (1 hour to Hirosaki, 2.5 hours to Akita). You may have an extended layover at Hirosaki depending on your schedule.
 * From Akita to Niigata, take the Uetsu Line to Shibata via Sakata and Murakami (5 hours), then change to the Hakushin Line for Niigata (30 minutes).

Other benefits
Seishun 18 Ticket holders are entitled to some discounts on other railways, buses and hotels.

JR West Bus
JR West Bus (West Japan JR Bus Company), the bus department of JR West, gives passengers who have Seishun 18 Tickets a discount on fares of three bus routes: the Meikin Line (名金線 Meikin-sen) between Kanazawa Station and Fukumitsu, the Enpuku Line (園福線 Enpuku-sen) between Fukuchiyama Station and Sonobe, and the Wakae Line (若江線 Wakae-sen) between Ōmi-Imazu Station and Obama Station. Through this campaign, passengers may ride on the above bus routes at a flat fare of ¥800 each.

Passengers must show the bus driver their Seishun 18 Ticket, are given a discount ticket at the end of their ride, and may only alight at the two terminal stops of each line. Alighting at any other stop results in no discount being applied.

Hisatsu Orange Railway
On the Hisatsu Orange Railway, the Orange 18 Free Ticket (おれんじ18フリーきっぷ Orenji 18 furī kippu) is sold for ¥2,100 to passengers who have valid Seishun 18 Tickets in a valid period of time (a same-day seal is placed on the ticket). Free Pass in Hisatsu Orange Railway Passengers can ride on the entire line on the Hisatsu Orange Railway for one day. Tickets can be purchased from crews, station staffs, and stations tellers on the trains or stations.

Echigo Tokimeki Railway
On the Echigo Tokimeki Railway, the Tokitetsu 18 Ticket (トキ鉄18きっぷ Tokitetsu 18 kippu) is sold for ¥1,000 to passengers who have a valid Seishun 18 Ticket that has been used on the same day.

Kampu Ferry
Kampu Ferry gives passengers who have Seishun 18 Tickets a discount on fares between Shimonoseki and Busan, South Korea. The company allows for a discount of 50% for second-class seats (¥4,500), 36% for first-class seats (¥8,000), and 25% for deluxe class seats (¥13,500). (Given prices are one-way, after discount.) Passengers must reserve a seat on the ferry and mention the 青春18きっぷ旅大応援割引 Seishun 18 kippu tabi daioen waribiki discount by telephone before boarding the ferry.

When making a reservation, passengers must provide their name, passport number, date of birth, and gender. A round-trip ferry ticket counts as two tickets, and the discount can be applied to both. There is no discount available when making a one-way trip from the Port of Busan to Shimonoseki.

Passengers must pay a non-discounted fuel surcharge fee and international tourist tax (¥1,000) along with the price of the ticket.

JR Hotel Group
JR Hotel Group gives guests who have Seishun 18 Tickets a 10–20% discount off the regular rate. Guests must make a reservation at this hotel by the previous day. Guests must show hotel staff the Seishun 18 Ticket which is used on the same day as the hotel check-in. A list of discounts is available here.

Alternative passes
There are two Seishun 18-like passes that may be viable alternatives.

Hokkaido and East Japan Pass
The Hokkaido and East Japan Pass (北海道&東日本パス Hokkaido & higashi-nihon pasu) is a regional version of the Seishun 18 Ticket, priced slightly cheaper at ¥11,330 (children ¥5,660) for seven consecutive days of travel. The pass allows travel on all JR East and JR Hokkaido local and rapid commuter services, plus the Iwate Galaxy Railway (IGR, aka Iwate Ginga Tetsudo) and Aoimori Railway (Aoimori Tetsudo) lines between Morioka and Aomori, along with the Hokuetsu Express between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naoetsu. With the purchase of an additional special express ticket (特定特急券 tokutei tokkyuūken), trips are also permitted Hokkaido Shinkansen trains between Shin-Aomori and Hakodate, in available seats (空いている席 Aiteiru seki) or standing room (立席 Tachiseki) in ordinary cars only.

The ticket is available during the same days as the summer Seishun 18 Ticket:

Note that this pass covers seven consecutive days and can only be used by one person, as opposed to the Seishun 18 Ticket, which can be used on any five days within the period and can be shared between more travelers. The usable period of the Hokkaido and East Japan Pass also differs slightly.

Aki no Norihōdai Pasu
The Aki no Norihōdai Pasu (秋の乗り放題パス), the "Autumn All-You-Can-Ride Pass", can be used in precisely the same way on precisely the same lines as the Seishun 18 Ticket. However, it's available only once a year for a two-week period in early October (exact dates vary yearly), and tickets go on sale in mid-September. The cost is ¥7,850 for three days, making it slightly more expensive per day than the Seishun 18, but unlike the Seishun 18, a half-priced version for kids is available. The main catch is that it must be used on consecutive days and cannot be split up between people. The ticket is sold every year to commemorate Railroad Day (鉄道の日 Tetsudō n -hi), which is celebrated on October 14.

JR West has a special version of the pass, the "Railroad Day Commemorative JR West 1-Day All-You-Can-Ride Ticket" (鉄道の日記念 JR西日本一日乗り放題きっぷ Tetsudō-no-hi kinen JR nishi-nihon ichinichi norihōdai kippu), which costs ¥3,080 and is valid for one day only for all JR West lines. Sale and validity dates are similar.

title: Seishun 18 Ticket


text:
Sejny

Sejny is a town in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland 12 km from the Polish - Lithuanian border. Sejny was always a multinational and multicultural town - Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, Germans, Belarussians and others lived here together. Today it is a rather sleepy town counting a little more than 5000 inhabitants.

Understand
Tourist Information is in the museum at ul. J. Piłsudskiego 28.

By bus
PKS Suwałki. There are connections from Sejny to Augustów, Białystok and other nearby towns.

By car
Sejny has good connection to Suwałki and Augustów, it lies on the road to Polish - Lithuanian border crossing Ogrodniki/Lazdijai.

Do

 * Check what is going on in White Synagogue, where Ośrodek "Pogranicze - sztuk, kultur, narodów" (Borderland of arts, cultures, nations) resides.

Sleep
In summer there is a youth hostel at one of the schools.

Consulates

 * 🇱🇹 Lithuania

Go next

 * Alytus and Druskininkai in Lithuania
 * Suwałki – the largest nearby town

title: Sejny


text:
Seki

Seki (関) is a city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Understand
Seki was once known for samurai swords; now it's famous for the quality of its kitchen knives.

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

By train
Seki station is on the Nagaragawa Railway Line. It is seven stops away from Mino Ōta st. at Takayama Main Line.

Go next

 * Mino
 * Gujo
 * Minokamo
 * Tajimi
 * Gifu
 * Yamagata
 * Sakahogi
 * Kani
 * Inuyama

title: Seki


text:
Sekigahara

Sekigahara (関ヶ原町 Sekigahara-chō) is a rural town at the western edge of Gifu Prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan. It is most famous for the October 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, but its picturesque location nestled in a small valley between mountains, combined with its complete lack of large tour buses, makes it a nice day trip from the larger nearby cities of Kyoto, Nagoya, and Kanazawa. The small size of the town and the well-marked paths between historic sites makes Sekigahara even more appealing, as a visitor can traverse the entire battlefield in about a day.

You will need a solid understanding of Japanese, or a good translator, if you wish to interact with the town on a deeper level, but English-language material is available in the museums and on historical signs by the sites.

Understand
Sekigahara was the site of the epic Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原合戦 Sekigahara gassen) between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ishida Mitsunari, representing Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son and designated successor Toyotomi Hideyori. Tokugawa's victory on October 21, 1600 heralded the beginning of the Edo Period, and with it the rise of the Shogunate. The destruction of most of the forces of the Western Alliance (those loyal to the previous Toyotomi government and led by Ishida Mitsunari) allowed Tokugawa to rapidly consolidate control of Japan within the following four months, as previously-Western or neutral daimyos (regional warlords) either joined with Tokugawa or were crushed by him. Consequently, the town is filled with ruins, memorials and shrines to the dead. (There is a river called Kurochigawa (黒血川, "Black Blood River"), where the Tokugawa armies washed the cut-off heads of those fallen in battle, but the name had originated in the Jinshin War in the 7th century under similar circumstances.)

Today's Sekigahara is a rural town with a population just over 7,000. Due to its historical significance, Sekigahara is sister cities with both Waterloo in Belgium and Gettysburg in the US. It can also be inundated with Japanese tourists (particularly schoolchildren) because of its importance in Japanese history during certain parts of the Japanese school year.

Tourist information site
The town has a unified sightseeing guide site (Japanese-only, with integrated machine translation). Its download section has pamphlets in English, French, Chinese and Korean.

Read
James Clavell's Shogun (ISBN 0440178002) is a fictionalized account of the rise to power of Tokugawa Ieyasu, thinly disguised as "Toranaga", culminating the Battle of Sekigahara and the gruesome but historically accurate death of his enemy Ishida ("Ishido"), who is captured as he runs away from the field of battle and is executed by having his head slowly cut off by a wooden saw.

The classic samurai novel Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa (ISBN 156836427X), about the real exploits of the eponymous famous swordsman, starts with him fighting on the losing side at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.

By train
The JR Tokaido Main Line passes through Sekigahara on its way from Osaka to Nagoya, but it does not stop in the town.

The closest Shinkansen train station is in Maibara. One of two hourly Hikari services from Tokyo stop here, and you can transfer to the Tokaido Line local for the run to Sekigahara (3 hours, ¥12,070, no charge with JR Pass).

If coming from Kyoto (as most Western tourists tend to do), take the Shinkansen to Maibara, and then change to the Tokaido Line. The Shinkansen leg takes 19 minutes and the Tokaido leg takes 21 minutes, so the trip can be done in about an hour or even quicker if you time it right with trains. Make sure to take the Hikari or Kodama Shinkansen, as that will stop at every station (the other Shinkansen do not stop at Maibara). Maibara is the first stop going east from Kyoto on the Hikari or Kodama Shinkansen. If traveling on a Seishun 18 ticket or other pass that does not permit use of the Shinkansen, take the Special Rapid (新快速) to Maibara and change to the JR Central portion of the Tokaido line. When using the Special Rapid train, the JR West leg takes 1 hour 7 minutes.

By vehicle
Driving wise, Sekigahara is at the intersection between Routes 365 (N-S) and 21 (E-W). To the south of the town lies the E1 (Meishin) expressway that runs between Komaki (outside of Nagoya) and Nishinomiya. Both roads meander through narrow(ish) mountain valleys in the heart of rural Japan, and while they are in good condition (as of March 2023), they are quite far from the major tourist sites (about 1.5 hours from Kyoto and 45 minutes from Nagoya). Unless you are already staying in the Lake Biwa area or around Ogaki, it's faster to buy a train ticket and take the trains.

By bus
As of March 2023, there are no public buses that transport people into or through the town. The only buses that bring people in are Japanese tour coaches, so non-Japanese tourists will probably not utilize buses to visit the town at all (unless they have a really solid grasp of Japanese and have decided to book one of those tours).

By foot
Unless you drive in (or are bused in), everyone enters (and leaves) Sekigahara via the Sekigahara Station, which is conveniently located in the center of the town. The entire town can be walked within a few hours, and it's probably well within reason to state that any part of the town is within a 20-30 minute walk from the Station.

Some historic sites are located on the top of hills or small mountains. While everything is easily walked, some trails are stepped (thus bicycles are not allowed) and can be quite steep.

By bicycle
Bicycles can be rented at the Tourist Center opposite the Station entrance, or at the Memorial Museum to the north of the Station. Some of the more distant sites are best accessed by bicycle, but there are occasional parts of the trails where bicycles must be walked and not ridden (such as over some small dams). The bicycles use pedals that don't require snap-in shoes.

By bus
The town operated Fureai Bus rotates on 5 different routes, three times a day. It's not so convenient for the time-pressed traveler - you may tour by foot, bicycle, or private vehicle.

See
While the Battle of Sekigahara is of major significance to Japanese history buffs and school groups, foreign visitors are rare and information in English is generally minimal. A solid grasp of Japanese and/or a local guide will come in handy here. Memorial posts (陣跡 jin-ato) have been set up at most major battle sites in the area, but information is in Japanese. Historic markers are set up next to the posts, which explains in Japanese and English both the significance of said post and how the battle unfolded for the person that the post commemorates (for example, the post marking Shimadzu Yoshihiro's encampment details how his forces acted in the battle).

Do
Explore the town and soak in the history and significance of the battle! Along the path from the Station to the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum are posters that display information about each of the major commanders, as well as a map of the ideal path for visiting the sites related to that commander. These maps list in both English and Japanese what the site itself is (although not the significance of it), how far the walk is in km, and how long it takes (most are within 120-140 minutes, but one is 90 minutes).

In October, the Battle of Sekigahara Festival occurs on the closest weekend before the 21st (the date of the actual battle), which includes a reenactment of the battle plus extra activities such as demonstrations of matchlock guns in action. It is similar in nature to the Civil War reenactments in the United States, and is recommended for anyone who loves military history or samurai/feudal Japan.

Buy
Fans of shogi (Japanese chess), can buy chessboards set up like the Sekigahara battlefield from souvenir shops around town (¥800). Gift shops in town (especially in the museums) sell products that either have the different daimyo family crests on them (so you can pick your favorite clan) or are otherwise related to the Shogun, samurai, or Japan in general.

Because the town receives a lot of Japanese schoolkids on tours, there are plenty of souvenirs that are designed for children (such as plastic katanas, wooden samurai puzzles, and kids' shirts) and might be an interesting gift for a young relative. More "adult" related souvenirs usually revolve around local sake or clothing/towels, but there are also items that will appeal to all ages.

Eat
The Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum has an annex that includes a gift shop and a small cafeteria-style cafe named Ibukian (伊吹庵). The food is good and relatively cheap, and will suffice if you want to stay around the Museum area. There is also a cafe named Hikosa in front of the museum.

In 2023, NHK's year-long drama series focused on Ieyasu and prompted many investments in the area. As a result, some decent restaurants and cafes opened both in the battlefield and around the station.

Drink
There are no bars in Sekigahara, and the restaurant in the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum does not sell alcohol. If you wish to drink alcohol the closest bars are in Ogaki.

As mentioned above, you can purchase bottles of sake from the Museum gift shop or one of the convenience stores in the town - all three are located along major roads, not near the station.

Sleep
As Sekigahara is a very small rural town, there are no real hotels within the town's borders. The closest hotels are in Ogaki to the east or Maibara to the west (both cities can easily access Sekigahara within 20-30 minutes by train). There is one ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) in town.

Other forms of stay (hostels, homestays, camping) are - as of March 2023 - unknown in the town, but since most visitors visit Sekigahara as a day trip from a larger city, they will most likely return to their origin city to spend the night.

Stay safe
Most of the paths are in reality small roads, and while painted lines indicate a 'sidewalk', you'll be sharing the road with the rare car. Some of the paths (particularly the one between the Battlefield Memorial post and Okayama Signaling Hill post) go through forests where bears are present. Also, insects can be a nuisance, particularly in the forest areas and around the fields.

Some signs are not clearly marked or have faded, and the maps mentioned in the Do section do not display every intersection. That being said, the maps do stay true to the bends and turns of the correct path, so if you can match up the turn you just did with the turn on the map, you should be good.

Go next
Most tourists visiting Sekigahara hit it on the way between larger tourist destinations like Kyoto, Nagoya, or Kanazawa, but those spending more time in the region should consider the following:
 * Maibara — Nearby Lake Mishima is a great place to see fireflies; most travelers stop here to switch trains on the way to/from Kyoto.
 * Ogaki — The next settlement that could reasonably called a "city" when heading east. The closest town with hotels and bars to Sekigahara.
 * Tarui — The first settlement entered when traveling east from Sekigahara.
 * Gifu — The capital of Gifu Prefecture, a moderately-sized city east of Ogaki.
 * Hikone — On Lake Biwa and southwest of Maibara, this city contains one of the 12 original Japanese castles.
 * Nagahama — Also on Lake Biwa to the immediate west of Maibara.

title: Sekigahara


text:
Sekondi-Takoradi

Sekondi and Takoradi are adjacent port cities; the combined municipality forms the capital of Western Ghana.

Cities

 * Sekondi
 * Takoradi, an important deepwater seaport and Ghana's first, built in 1928.

Understand
The twin cities rose from the sites of 17th-century Dutch, Swedish and English forts and were combined into a single municipality in 1946.

Sekondi-Takoradi is Ghana's fourth largest city and an industrial and commercial centre.

The chief industries are timber, plywood, shipbuilding and railroad repair. The main railway lines to Accra and Kumasi pass through Sekondi-Takoradi.

The discovery of large crude oil reserves in the western region of Ghana has attracted people from all over the world.

Talk
They are normally found speaking Akan such as "fante". You can learn more common phrases from the Fante Phrasebook

By train
Commuter trains run several times a day between Sekondi and Takoradi and stations in between.

Buy
Most of Ghana's major banks have branches around the market area.

Eat
They are normally found eating local food such as "fante kenkey" with fried fish and hot pepper.

Stay safe
There are hotels with safety security guards in there.

Connect
The local area telephone for Sekondi-Takoradi is 031 if calling from within Ghana.

If calling from another country use the country code +233, followed by 31 followed by the local number. Please note that the leading zero should be dropped when using the international prefix.

Go next

 * Sunyani, in the Brong Ahafo region

 * Kumasi, the fastest growing city in West Africa, home to the Asantehene (King of The Ashanti Kingdom) and the second largest city of Ghana.
 * Wa, the capital of the upper western region of Ghana. Wa is bordered by Burkina Faso to the north and the Ivory Coast to the west.
 * Cape Coast Town, a small town with a reputation for excellence in education.
 * Bolgatanga, between Burkina Faso and Togo. Bolga is the capital of the upper eastern region of Ghana.
 * Koforidua, (Kof town), in the cool mountains in eastern Ghana, Koforidua is the capital of the Eastern region of the country.
 * Ho, the beaches of the Volta estuary are amongst the best in Ghana.
 * Accra, a city of high rise buildings and vibrant night life. Accra is the capital and most populous city of Ghana. It is also the provincial capital of the Accra region.

title: Sekondi-Takoradi


text:
Sekupang

Sekupang is a town and district on the Indonesian island of Batam, in the Riau Islands. It is primarily known for its domestic ferry terminal, which has extensive services to points west towards Sumatra.

Understand
Sekupang is a district of the island of Batam, on the northwestern side of the island. The port of Sekupang is the island's main ferry port for domestic ferries to/from the Sumatra mainland and other Riau Islands west of Batam. In addition, there are ferries to and from Singapore.

By ferry

From Singapore's Harbourfront Ferry Terminal, ferries to Sekupang are operated by Batam Fast (+65-62700311 in Singapore, +62-778-325085/6 in Sekupang).

Most domestic ferries from Sumatra's mainland and some smaller islands west of Batam arrive in Batam at Sekupang. Regular ferries operate between Tanjung Balai on Karimun and Sekupang. Some of the ferries originate from the Sumatra mainland or Kundur Island. Boats also stop at Tanjung Balai when going from Sekupang to Sumatra or Kundur. Several companies, including Dumai Express operates several ferries daily to/from Dumai (mainland Riau province). Most of these ferries originate from Tanjung Pinang, the main town on Bintan, and also make a stop at Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island after making a stop at Sekupang.

Sekupang is also part of the national PELNI-operated ferry network, with ships from various ports across Indonesia calling at Sekupang.

Do

 * Golf - Batam is a golfers paradise. Batam Island is blessed with 7 great golf courses providing top class championship golf and great hospitality, the harbour at Sekupang is a popular destination for golfers playing at Indah Puri, Batam Hills and Southlinks.

Sleep
Accommodation near Sekupang is very limited.

Go next

 * Nagoya (Lubuk Baja) — Batam's busiest business and commercial area
 * Batam Centre — Newly developed housing and commercial area
 * Nongsapura (Nongsa) — The majority of Batam's resorts are located here
 * Waterfront City (Teluk Senimba) — Another resort area

title: Sekupang


text:
Selangor

Selangor is a state in the west coast of Malaysia.

Cities

 * — Malaysia's first planned city as well as the main industrial and commercial hub of the state
 * — state capital known for its giant blue mosque
 * — an affluent major suburban city between Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam (also home to Subang Airport).

Towns

 * — once the capital and still the royal seat, now best known for bak kut teh or pork rib soup and other delicacies.
 * — a town famous for satay
 * — the usual connection point for Fraser's Hill, a quiet hill resort on the border of Selangor and Pahang
 * — a small town that is famous for its FireFlies sightings at their natural habitat and seafood restaurants as well.
 * — port with ferry connections to and from Sumatra and to the small surrounding islands at Klang (eg: Pulau Ketam, Pulau Besar)
 * — a major town next to Subang Jaya and Bandar Sunway
 * — a charming small but bustling town
 * — home of Kuala Lumpur's international airports and Formula 1 race circuit
 * —
 * - Famous for the paddy fields. Can visit the paddy factory and the coastal villages. With good seafood too.
 * -Also a small coastal fishing town, with many seafood restaurants. Other sights: Dragon fruit plantation, Lover's Bridge, handmade pao shops, Lingzhi farm and more.

Understand
Selangor is the wealthiest, most urbanized and, with 4.1 million people, the most populous of Malaysia's states. It is centred around the urban sprawl of the Klang Valley, surrounding but not including the capital Kuala Lumpur and the federal administrative capital Putrajaya.

Talk
Malay is the national language of Malaysia and spoken by all locals, but the use of English is widespread. Tamil is the main language spoken by the ethnic Indian community, while Cantonese is the main language spoken by the ethnic Chinese community, with significant minorities of Hakka and Hokkien speakers. Most ethnic Chinese are also able to speak Mandarin. Due to the multi-ethnic makeup of the state, it is common to meet people who are fluent in three or more languages. For instance, an ethnic Chinese from Klang would typically be quadrilingual in Hokkien, Cantonese, Mandarin and Malay, with the better educated ones usually able to speak English as well.

Get in
The new Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, (TBS-BTS) or Integrated Bus Terminal at Bandar Tasik Selatan serves all southbound buses, taking over from Pudu Raya in Kuala Lumpur. The terminal is located next to the Express Rail Link (ERL) KLIA Transit Station, the Stesen Komuter KTM Bandar Tasik Selatan and the Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT Station (Star LRT). There are also Rapid city buses and a taxi rank. The cheapest way to get into the city is to use the Komuter train.

Stay safe
Selangor is a reasonably safe state. However, several cases of snatch thefts have been reported in urban areas, some including deaths, so be careful with your belongings. Make sure to put handbags away from open car windows and where motorbikes can easily snatch your handbags on roadsides, and try to have at least one companion to accompany you around, even if you are a man, as criminal cases have been on increase of late.

Go next

 * Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia
 * Negeri Sembilan, 30-45 minutes away from here

title: Selangor


text:
Selatpanjang

Selat Panjang (Selatpanjang) is a city in the province of Riau, located on the island of Tebing Tinggi, just off the coast of mainland Sumatra.

Understand

Selatpanjang is the capital of Kepulauan Meranti Regency. The city is fast growing with a population around 100,000. It is a trading, shipping, shopping and tourism seafood centre in the region.

Get in
Selat Panjang has neither an airport nor any roads to mainland Sumatra, so travellers' only option is to get in by boat. Selat Panjang has good ferry connections transit with Singapore and Batu Pahat in the southwestern tip of Johor, Malaysia as well as the other Riau Islands and the Sumatra "mainland".

By boat
The Tanjung Harapan ferry terminal at Selat Panjang at of Jalan Tanjung Harapan is the main passenger port of Selat Panjang City and is used by all domestic and international services from the city. It is visa-free for most ASEAN citizens and a visa-on-arrival port; see Indonesia's Get in section for visa details.

The two companies' code-sharing agreement allows you to board any ferry at Selat Panjang for the return leg to Malaysia only if you hold a return ticket that was purchased in Malaysia. If you buy your ticket in Selat Panjang, you can only board the ferry of the company from which you buy the ticket.
 * From Malaysia Batu Pahat Minyak Beku Ferry Terminal, operate a round-the-clock service between the Peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesia. Run every day of the year across the Strait of Malacca. Every day on MV.Elucgho and MV.Indo Mall (H/P 016-788 0400/ling6868@gmail.com). Batu Pahat Minyak Beku Ferry Terminal also has a comfortable fleet on these waters. Minyak Beku to Selat Panjang takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Selat Panjang Terminal also has a ferry to Tanjung Balai, Tanjung Pinang, Pulau Batam, and Pekanbaru.

 * As of 2022, direct ferries from Singapore remain suspended due to COVID-19. The best alternative is to transit via Batam.

 * From other parts of Indonesia
 * Batam, Bintan and other Riau Islands:
 * MV Dumai Express operates several ferries to/from Batam, Karimun, and Bintan.
 * MV Batam Jet has daily ferries to Batam.
 * MV Mikonata operates several ferries to/from Karimun
 * MV Batam Line operates several ferries to/from Batam, Karimun, and Bintan.
 * In Batam, ferries dock at Sekupang, next to the international ferry terminal where there are connecting ferries to Singapore. In Bintan, ferries arrive/depart from Tanjung Pinang harbour in the middle of town.
 * From Pekanbaru there are Porti Express, Naga Line ( and Meranti Jaya Express ferries from the Sungai Duku ferry terminal.
 * From Dumai, there is a ferry to Insit Ferry Port in Selatpanjang.

Get around
The cheapest way to travel in Selatpanjang is by Becak.You can get almost anywhere in Selatpanjang for Rp 10,000 or Rp 20,000.

Do
Stroll around Selat Panjang, which is the main town on Tebing Tinggi Island, and one of the busiest towns in the Riau. You can walk around and explore on your own or you can take a becak (small public vehicle) for Rp 20,000.

To enjoy the rural lifestyle on a tropical Indonesian island, you need to get away from Selat Panjang and go to some local kampung (village) areas in Alai or Dorak beach.

Buy

 * There is a small department store called 99, where you can get all the items required for normal consumption. There are also stores named Incomix and OK Minimart. This 3-storey department store offers food, clothing, housewares, stationery and basic necessities. For fruit and vegetables there is the Pasar. A pasar is a traditional market (bazaar) for daily fruit and vegetables, fish, other groceries and clothes.
 * There are a lot of small shop houses selling all type of necessities.

Eat

 * Several Chinese restaurants can be found along Imam Bonjol street or Sungai Juling Street. This is probably the central area for Chinese food. Noodles are also available.
 * Miso is a kind of noodle soup, made of yellow noodles and vermicelli noodles that have been boiled and sprinkled with chicken, fried onions and slices of celery. Characterized by a thick and fragrant aroma and a blend of soy sauce and chili sauce. It is just as popular as nasi goreng. Both are sold from street side stalls, or push carts that make their rounds through the neighborhoods.
 * Sago Noodle/Mie sagu Noodle dishes from Sago in the area. The famous Selatpanjang food.
 * Miso is a kind of noodle soup, made of yellow noodles and vermicelli noodles that have been boiled and sprinkled with chicken, fried onions and slices of celery. Characterized by a thick and fragrant aroma and a blend of soy sauce and chili sauce. It is just as popular as nasi goreng. Both are sold from street side stalls, or push carts that make their rounds through the neighborhoods.
 * Sago Noodle/Mie sagu Noodle dishes from Sago in the area. The famous Selatpanjang food.

Drink

 * Alpukat jus / Avocado juice
 * Es Campur Indonesian famous drink
 * Laksemane Mengamuk Riau famous drink
 * Carlsberg and Guinness are produced locally, as well as Bintang and Tiger beer.

Telephone numbers

 * The country code for Indonesia is 62. The area code for Selatpanjang is 763. To call Singapore from Wartel phone shop, please dial 007-65 follow by the phone number.

Postal services
Post office (known as Kantor Pos in Indonesia language) in Selatpanjang City is open daily except Sundays and public holidays.

Go next
The nearest airport is on Batam island, so you'll need to head back there for domestic flights. For international flights heading to Singapore or Batu Pahat, Minyak Beku Ferry Terminal (Malaysia), would be the best option. The international seaport tax is Rp 60,000.

title: Selatpanjang


text:
Selby

Selby is a market town in North Yorkshire, with a population in 2011 of 14,731. It's on the tidal River Ouse, 14 miles south of York, and as late as 1998 had a ship-building industry. In the 1970s and 80s it was the centre of a productive coalfield. These industries have gone and Selby is now a commuter town for York and Leeds. The main reason to visit is the abbey, an intact medieval building with a stained glass window depicting the original "Stars and Stripes".

Get in
Trains run every 30 min from Leeds, taking 30 min to Selby and continuing for another 35 min to Hull - hourly these start from Manchester Airport and Piccadilly.

An hourly train runs from York to Selby, 30 min, and continues to Hull.

Every two hours, a direct train from London Kings Cross calls at Doncaster and Selby on its way to Hull, but most Doncaster-Hull trains go by a different route. Until the 1970s, the East Coast mainline to York and Edinburgh passed through Selby. It had to be diverted some miles west when development of the coal mines made subsidence inevitable.

Change at Hull for trains up the east coast to Beverley, Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough.

is 200 yards east of town centre. The bus station is on the west side of the railway station.

Arriva Bus 45 runs every 15 min from York, taking 50 min to Selby. Bus 64 / 164 runs hourly from Leeds via Garforth and Sherburn in Elmet, taking 90 min to Selby.

Bus 476 runs four times a day from Pontefract via Ferrybridge and Kellington, taking 70 min to Selby. There are no direct buses from Wakefield, Doncaster or Hull.

By road from the south follow A1(M) onto M62 east and exit at junction 34 for A19 north to town. From the north leave A1(M) for A63 east.

Get around
The town is compact and there's only the abbey to see, which won't take long. You'll need wheels to get out and explore the area around.

See

 * Abbot's Staith is a 15th century warehouse by the river just north of the abbey. It may be possible to look in M-F 10:00-17:00.
 * The Toll Bridge carried the Doncaster - York main road, and until 1991 had a toll, causing queuing traffic to snarl up the whole town. That was somewhat relieved by abolishing the toll, and completely relieved in 2004 by the opening of the A19 bypass south and east of town, which spans the river by an ingenious swing bridge. The town's 1791 wooden toll bridge was replaced in the 1970s by a metal structure, which isn't much to look at itself, but you get views along the tidal river channel.
 * The Toll Bridge carried the Doncaster - York main road, and until 1991 had a toll, causing queuing traffic to snarl up the whole town. That was somewhat relieved by abolishing the toll, and completely relieved in 2004 by the opening of the A19 bypass south and east of town, which spans the river by an ingenious swing bridge. The town's 1791 wooden toll bridge was replaced in the 1970s by a metal structure, which isn't much to look at itself, but you get views along the tidal river channel.

Do

 * Town Hall hosts the Arts Centre and the Selby Globe Cinema.
 * Selby Leisure Centre has a gym and pool. Day / guest access may be available. It's on Scott Rd west side of town.
 * Selby Superbowl is on Bawtry Rd half a mile south of the centre.
 * Walking: use OS Landranger Map 105 (York & Selby). The Transpennine trail follows the east bank of the River Ouse down to Goole, then on towards Hull and the coast.
 * A trail north stays on the east riverbank to Riccall, then follows an old railway track (with a scale model of the solar system) into York.
 * The Transpennine trail west is diverted hither and yon by railways and rivers. You might prefer to follow Selby canal to the River Aire, then west towards Castleford and Leeds.

 * Boating: the canal is navigable, connecting the Aire and the Ouse.
 * Cycling: Selby was twice a stage-town for the Tour de Yorkshire. The countryside nearby is Dutch flat, but a few miles further east you ascend into the Yorkshire Wolds.
 * is on Mill Lane, off A63 a mile west of the junction with A1041. It's 6377 yards, par 71.
 * is at the airfield along A19 four miles southwest of town.
 * offers air experiences and flight training.

Buy

 * Sainsbury's is just north of the abbey, and Morrison's then Tesco to the south.

Eat

 * Town centre choices include Sapori74 on Back Micklegate and Thai Sunshine on Abbey Rd.

Drink

 * Doghouse is a micro-brewery and pub at 8 Park St, open Th F 17:00-22:00, Sa Su 12:00-22:00.
 * Other decent pubs in town centre are No 1 The Crescent, New Inn, Bar Paradise, Three Swans on Church Hill, and Giant Bellflower which is a JD Wetherspoon.

Connect
As at April 2024, Selby and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from EE, O2 and Three.

Go next

 * York is a must-see, a historic walled city full of attractions.
 * Hull is a busy shipping port with fascinating industrial history.
 * Leeds is the place for big city amusements.

title: Selby


text:
Selçuk

Selçuk is a town in the Central Aegean region of Turkey, with a population of 36,360 in 2018. It's the original site of the city of Ephesus - those Roman ruins lie 4 km west and are described on a separate page.

Understand
An unremarkable mound 2 km south indicates settlement hereabouts from 7000 BC, the very oldest of towns. Ancient Ephesus was a port on the coast, above a wetland estuary, but the river continually shifted its course and silted up so the city struggled to retain its sea access, vital to its prosperity. The wetland was also none too good for human health or for building on, and from about 290 AD Ephesus migrated 3 km west and downstream. There it was embellished in the Roman era into the remarkable place that draws tourists to this day. It was also a major religious centre, with an early Christian population.

The new Ephesus in turn fell into ruin as the coast continued to retreat - the sea is now 15 km away at the resort of Kuşadası. A backwater settlement continued, as there was a fertile hinterland with overland routes. From the 10th century the area fell under the control of the Selçuk Turkish dynasty, from which the modern town takes its name. They were supplanted in the 14th by the Ottomans. The town never became large or industrial so many of its antiquities were preserved.

By plane
The nearest commercial airport is Izmir Adnan Menderes, which has daily flights from Istanbul and Ankara, and occasionally from Europe. It's 55 km north of Selçuk, and both are on the IZBAN suburban railway so you don't have to travel into central Izmir and out again - see below.

The IZBAN railway extension, completed in 2017, took away most of the traffic from the local dolmuşes and airport shuttles, so these are nowadays less frequent.

By train
Selçuk is the south terminus of IZBAN the Izmir suburban railway. The Green Line runs north-south from Aliağa (for Bergama), Hatundre (for Foça), downtown Izmir (where Hilal is the main interchange), Adnan Menderes Airport, and Tepeköy where you change to the Southern Extension train every 90 min to Selçuk. The trip from downtown is about an hour. Consider buying an İzmirim Kart.

A TCDD regional train (look for bölgesel) runs six times a day from Izmir Basmane via the airport and Tepeköy, taking 90 min to Selçuk and continuing via Çamlık, Aydın and a dozen other places to Denizli (another 3 hr, for Pamukkale).

The Göller Express also calls at Selçuk on the way between Isparta and Izmir, but in the early hours of the morning.

By bus
Buses run six times a day direct from Istanbul Esenler, taking 8-9 hours via Izmir, for a fare in 2022 of 520 TL. Operators are Pamukkale and Flixbus. Or you may find it more convenient to change in Izmir, which has frequent buses round the clock from Istanbul, Ankara and elsewhere.

Frequent dolmuşes from Izmir and buses from Pamukkale pass through town.

Get around
Dolmuşes towards Kuşadası pass the lower gate of Ephesus. To reach the House of Mary look for a tour, else you may need to take a taxi.

Rented motorbikes or scooters can be a fun way to explore the area around Selçuk. Or cycle, but Şirince and the House of Mary are up in the hills.

ESHOT Bus 770 runs from Selçuk via Belevi (for Goat Castle) to Torbalı (for Izban) M-F hourly and Sa Su every 2 hours. It's cashless so you need an Izmirim Kart.

In town

 * , once renowned as one of the "Seven Wonders" of the ancient world, is just a reconstructed solitary column, free to access. This stood in "Temple E", the fifth known structure, built 350-250 BC on a difficult swampy site, and the high water table has impeded excavation. Artemis was the Grecian deity known as Diana to the Romans, presiding over virginity, fertility, childbirth, the moon and hunting, a combination all the more remarkable given the size of her noisy entourage. She gives her name to the Artemis project to land a crewed spacecraft at the moon's south pole in 2024.
 * The aqueduct ruins are Byzantine and stand 15 m tall, coursing west from the railway station towards Ayasuluk hill. They're crowned with storks' nests and floodlit at night.
 * İsabey Hamam was the associated bathhouse 100 m south of the mosque. It's dilapidated and fenced off.
 * The aqueduct ruins are Byzantine and stand 15 m tall, coursing west from the railway station towards Ayasuluk hill. They're crowned with storks' nests and floodlit at night.
 * İsabey Hamam was the associated bathhouse 100 m south of the mosque. It's dilapidated and fenced off.
 * İsabey Hamam was the associated bathhouse 100 m south of the mosque. It's dilapidated and fenced off.

Further out

 * off D550 is the usual entry point to that complex, but you can enter or exit by either.
 * is usually the exit, but it's on D515 with public transport so you might enter that way.
 * means "mound in the valley" which sums it up: it's not much to look at, but is important. This tell is the heaped remains of settlements back to 7000 BC, at the dawn of Anatolian civilisation. It was excavated 2006-2016 and you may see its findings in the town museum.
 * 12 km south of town has a railway museum, with a great collection of old steam locomotives. It's open daily 08:30-17:30 and you can get there by train.
 * is so bad it's almost fascinating. It's a cod-classical photo set so that couples can have their wedding photos taken as if at Ephesus but without the milling tourists, dust and trash to spoil the image - how come the ancient city architects never thought of this? The site is closed in 2022.
 * is a village on the bus and rail route to Izmir. 3 km east of it, the Belevi Mausoleum is a royal burial vault from around 300 BC. On the hill west is the ruin of Keçi Kalesi, Goat Castle.
 * is a picturesque village in the hills 9 km east of Selçuk, see separate page.
 * is a village on the bus and rail route to Izmir. 3 km east of it, the Belevi Mausoleum is a royal burial vault from around 300 BC. On the hill west is the ruin of Keçi Kalesi, Goat Castle.
 * is a picturesque village in the hills 9 km east of Selçuk, see separate page.

Do

 * Beach: Pamucak is closest, the most northerly of the Kuşadası resort strip. Follow D515 west, and continue west when the highway turns sharply south.
 * Skydive: Efes centre and airfield are next to Ephesus north gate. The usual jump for a beginner is a tandem freefall coupled to an instructor, so minimum training, fitness and skill are needed.

Buy

 * Lots of small supermarkets, Migros is the main chain. They're mostly open daily 08:00-22:00.
 * Carpet shops: half a dozen cluster near the museum, including Lonca, Alibaba's, Blacksheep and Can Carpet.

Eat

 * West of the railway station is the main concentration, with Nur, Ejder (below), Okumus Mercan, Köşem, Efes, Köylum, Seçkin Firuze, Tat Cafe, Eski Ev, Dönercim Ümit, Pınar Pide & Çöp Şiş and Gaziantep Kebab Salonu.
 * West of Atatürk Cd near the museum are Ali Baba & Mehmet Kebab House (below), Agora, Selçuk Pidecisi, Amazon Cafe Bistro and Ayasoluk Hotel Restaurant.
 * West of Atatürk Cd near the museum are Ali Baba & Mehmet Kebab House (below), Agora, Selçuk Pidecisi, Amazon Cafe Bistro and Ayasoluk Hotel Restaurant.

Drink

 * Town centre between highway and railway station has Deniz, Dolphin (below), Pink Bistro (below) and Cessna Bistro.
 * Around the museum are Nazdrave, Destine and Skopje Otantic (below).
 * Efes beer is named for nearby Ephesus and is the most popular beer in Turkey, a Pilsener-type pale lager. The brand is owned by Anadolu Efes, founded in 1969, who have five breweries in Turkey (the nearest is in Izmir) and others in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Kazakhstan. Efes is a reliable choice for drinking by itself on a hot day or to accompany a meal.
 * Around the museum are Nazdrave, Destine and Skopje Otantic (below).
 * Efes beer is named for nearby Ephesus and is the most popular beer in Turkey, a Pilsener-type pale lager. The brand is owned by Anadolu Efes, founded in 1969, who have five breweries in Turkey (the nearest is in Izmir) and others in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Kazakhstan. Efes is a reliable choice for drinking by itself on a hot day or to accompany a meal.
 * Efes beer is named for nearby Ephesus and is the most popular beer in Turkey, a Pilsener-type pale lager. The brand is owned by Anadolu Efes, founded in 1969, who have five breweries in Turkey (the nearest is in Izmir) and others in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Kazakhstan. Efes is a reliable choice for drinking by itself on a hot day or to accompany a meal.
 * Efes beer is named for nearby Ephesus and is the most popular beer in Turkey, a Pilsener-type pale lager. The brand is owned by Anadolu Efes, founded in 1969, who have five breweries in Turkey (the nearest is in Izmir) and others in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Kazakhstan. Efes is a reliable choice for drinking by itself on a hot day or to accompany a meal.

Connect
Selçuk and its approach highways, and ancient Ephesus, have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of July 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Izmir is a busy modern city with lots to see and do.
 * Bergama is the site of ancient Pergamon, a well-preserved acropolis.
 * Sardis, another of the "Seven Churches of Asia", has another Temple of Artemis plus gymnasium and synagogue.
 * East is the fertile valley of the Küçükmenderes River, with old towns such as Tire, Ödemiş and Birgi the most picturesque.
 * Aphrodisias is an extensive site east reached via Nazilli.
 * Kuşadası is the raucous beach resort only 15 km west.
 * The three archeological sites of Priene, Miletus and Didyma are over the hill south of Kuşadası.
 * Denizli is the transport hub you pass through on the way to Pamukkale geothermal travertine pools.
 * Bodrum is the next big resort heading down the Aegean coast.

title: Selçuk


text:
Sélestat

Sélestat is in the middle of Alsace. It is home to the humanist library. Nearby is the deer reserve with unusual wildlife.

By train
The city's is a ten-minute walk from downtown.

See

title: Sélestat


text:
Selfoss

Selfoss is the largest town in South Iceland. Although it sits by a beautiful spot by the Ölfusá river, it's too close to places like Þingvellir and Gullfoss and Geysir to be noticed, and too close to Reykjavík for most people to think of it as a place to stay the night.

Understand
The town is young, even by Icelandic standards. Its history starts out of nothing in the early 20th century, when a new bridge was built across Ölfusá. When several important companies were placed close to the bridge (it made sense, economically) the town grew into an important hub for the agricultural area that surrounds it and today it produces most of the dairy products consumed in South, West and Southwest Iceland.

Culturally, Selfoss is in Iceland connected to what could be called the Icelandic equivalent of the British chav. The Icelandic word is hnakki, which means the back of the neck. There is definitely some truth in this, and Selfoss has been home to some of the most iconic bands identified with hnakki-music. But there is much more to the town, and it is maybe unfairly judged. Being the largest town in South Iceland (with a population just under 7,000 in 2016) and the main hub of an important agricultural area, it also plays an important role in the wider regional culture. Selfoss remains an undiscovered destination and its main appeal really lies in the surrounding areas, but it's a friendly enough town and can be a nice place to stay.

Selfoss is part of the Árborg municipality, along with Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki. Don't get confused when you see some signs mentioning Árborg and others mentioning Selfoss - the former simply means these three towns and the rural areas between them.

Get in
Selfoss sits on the Ring Road, about 60 km east of Reykjavík. It's also well connected by roads to the towns on the south coast and to Upcountry Árnessýsla.

The Reykjavík bus system, Strætó, runs buses to Selfoss. The route is number 51 and buses leave from Mjódd interchange station in Reykjavík, goes through Hveragerði and terminates at Fossnesti in Selfoss. One ride between Reykjavík and Selfoss costs 1,400 kr and buses leave close to once every hour during weekdays, less frequently on weekends.

There are also buses that run between Selfoss and Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri on the south coast, with several stops in each town. The schedule is rather irregular so it's best to ask around locally.

Finally, many Golden Circle buses run through Selfoss.

Get around
As with most Icelandic towns, it's easy enough to get around by walking.

The Strætó bus to the towns on the south coast has a few stops in Selfoss, so it's possible to use it to get around town but you'll probably spend so long waiting that it won't be worth it.

The local taxi company is called Bifreiðastöð Árborgar (tel.: +354 482 3800). It has a taxi rank on Eyrarvegur outside the building which houses Hótel Selfoss and the cinema.

Connect
Mobile phone coverage is good in Selfoss. It's possible to connect to the internet at the local library:

Go next
Getting out of Selfoss is really one of the main reasons for staying there. While to town may not be too interesting, it's close to the coastal towns Eyrarbakki, Stokkseyri and Þorlákshöfn, to the rural heartland and tourism hotspot of Upcountry Árnessýsla (location of Gullfoss and Geysir), to Þingvellir National Park and of course the capital Reykjavík. If you have a car, each of these can be very nice destinations for day trips.

Further afield, the rest of South Iceland lies ahead, with destinations like Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur, or the saga-rich landscape of Hella and Hvolsvöllur

title: Selfoss


text:
Seligman

Seligman is a town in the state of Arizona. The city is located on the old Route 66 and is home to the greatest concentration of Route 66 kitsch in Arizona if not the country, which makes it a frequent pit stop for travelers passing through on their way to more exotic destinations.

Get in
Seligman is located off of I-40. It is east of Kingman and west of Ash Fork.

Get around
Seligman's a one-street town if there ever was one. The names Chino Street, Main Street, and Historic Route 66 are used interchangeably.

Sleep

Seligman has a slew of more or less identical motels, many with period signage advertising snazzy features like "a phone in every room". Rooms from $30.

Go next

 * Williams is 45 minutes to the east.
 * Kingman is less than an hour to the west.
 * Las Vegas is three hours to the northwest.
 * Flagstaff is about an hour to the east.
 * The Grand Canyon is two hours north.

title: Seligman