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Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai (เชียงราย) is the capital of Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand.

Understand
The town proper has a population of around 62,000. It is the commercial centre of the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. It is an excellent base for exploring the region. Chiang Rai is essentially a service city for the surrounding province. The greater area has a relatively small population of 200,000 people, but also has a respected university and other civic facilities.

The character is distinctly Northern and is distinct from Chiang Mai to the south in various ways. The food is spicier and the ethnic composition includes a good percentage of hill tribes and Burmese exiles.

By plane

A new bus service, started on October 2018, is now connecting the airport to central city. An airconditioned bus runs every 20-40 minutes and costs 20 baht per ride.

Car rental is available on arrival from Avis, Hertz, Sixt and Thai Rent A Car.

At a desk in the airport you can hire a pre-paid taxi. The prices are on display. It will take you to your hotel, or the driver will find you one if you give him the price range you want to pay.

Metered taxis are no cheaper than the pre-paid taxis. The meter-taxis refuse to use the meter, covering it up with tape, so the pre-paid taxis are the best option.

By boat
You can travel up the Kok River via Ban Ruam Mit to Thaton (Thailand). For details see Thaton / Get in.

By bus
There are two bus stations in Chiang Rai. The old bus station and new bus station. There is a songthaew (officially a "minibus") connecting the two bus terminals. It takes 15 minutes. Some drivers ask you to pay more if there are fewer than 10 passengers, despite what the official price list posted inside the songthaew says. You can just wait for the next.

From Chiang Khong (Thai town to Laos border)
Local (red) buses leave every hour or so and have the destination clearly marked. The journey takes 2½ hours and costs 60 baht. You can hop on/off anywhere along the bus route.

From Chiang Mai
Operated by Greenbus, departs Chiang Mai Arcade Terminal 3 on a regular basis. Green bus stops at both Chiang Rai terminals. As May 2017, there are three types of bus:
 * V-Class Bus (VIP): 24 or 30 seat bus, air-con, toilet on board, free water, nuts and hand-towel. Travelling time 3 hours. 258 baht
 * X-Class Bus (1st class): 40-seat bus, air-con, toilet on board. Travelling time 3 hours 20 minutes. 166 baht
 * A-Class Bus (2nd class): 48-seat bus, air-con, no toilet. Travelling time 3 hours 30 minutes. 129 baht

Different class buses leave at different times. Make sure to check the timetable.

From Houayxay, Laos
Most accomodations in Houayxay offer a Minivan service to Chiang Rai. 300,000 Kip per person, including the shuttle bus across the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (December 2022). Minibus leaves at 7:30am in Houayxay and arrives in Chiang Rai approximately at 11:30am. At the border you have to change to the shuttle bus across the bridge and then to another minibus on the Thai side.

By train
The nearest train station is in Chiang Mai.

By car
Chiang Rai is about 820 km north of Bangkok and is easily accessible from Bangkok via Hwy 1, Hwy 32, and from Chiang Mai via Hwy 118.

By shared shuttle
Along with the Greenbus coach, there is a shared shuttle service operated by Daytrip that offers direct shuttle buses to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai a few times a day. They depart from Chiang Mai Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai International Airport, or custom pickup locations either in the morning (7:45AM) or afternoon (2:00 PM). Passengers can choose to get off at either White Temple, Chiang Rai downtown, or the airport. Prices start at $17, and tickets can be booked in advance to guarantee a seat.

Get around
Public transport consists mainly of tuk-tuks and songthaews, plus a smaller number of taxis. The city itself can be explored on foot, but for trips into the province consider renting a car or a motorbike. Budget and Avis have offices in Chiang Rai and there are several local agencies. If you don't feel up to driving in what may be a very different environment, then consider hiring a car with driver. It doesn't cost much more. Rental bicycles are difficult to find.

Chiang Rai has a few cyclo-rickshaws, which can be a pleasant way to see the main sights if you want a fairly quick tour.

By motorcycle
A motorbike is a good way to see these parts; there are several trails and a 250 cc dirt bike is a great way to see the countryside.

 * ST Motorcycle is in the centre of town. It has most brands of motorbike.
 * Soon's is another place that delivers motorcycles to some guest houses and may have a pick-up location.
 * Chiang Rai Big Bikes is near the Clocktower. Scooters start at 250 baht/day with 5000 baht deposit.

Itinerary
For a suggested itinerary, see Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in 3 days

Sacred places

Other

Do

 * [[Image:Chiang-Rai-Beach.JPG|thumb|Chiang Rai Beach]]
 * [[Image:Chiang-Rai-Beach.JPG|thumb|Chiang Rai Beach]]
 * [[Image:Chiang-Rai-Beach.JPG|thumb|Chiang Rai Beach]]
 * [[Image:Chiang-Rai-Beach.JPG|thumb|Chiang Rai Beach]]

Buy
The north of Thailand has its own distinctive art and crafts including bronze casting, carving, mulberry paper, Buddha images, and sign painting. Local handmade items popular with tourists are clay charcoal stoves, tea sets, brooms and dust pans, and umbrellas for shade and decoration.

Eat

The staple diet of local people consists of sticky rice (glutinous rice) which is rolled into balls and served in small handmade bamboo containers. The rice is served steamed and some add sweeteners for a dessert rice. Typical main dishes in the area are dishes of curried chicken or shrimp and particularly kaeng khanun (spicy jackfruit curry), kaeng yuak (banana stalk curry), sai ua (grilled pork sausage), and Yunnan cuisine and Burmese rice noodles. Khao soi is a noodle dish with chicken stock and chicken that is also popular. Nam ngiao is a traditional noodle dish with chicken or pork.

There is lots of good food in Chiang Rai, but most tourists seem to end up eating at the Night Bazaar. There are two separate places to eat here: "Centrepoint", run by a single restaurant with a Western-Thai menu and comparatively high prices, and then the "actual" night bazaar food court. Both have free music and dance performances almost nightly. Centrepoint has comfortable wooden furniture while the food court uses rather ugly yellow metal tables and chairs. While there are over 50 food stalls to choose from, the fare on offer is mostly quite touristy, with food toned down for the farang palate. About half the stalls seem to be devoted to selling deep-fried stuff (fritters, French fries, tempura) to accompany beer. There are also a few non-Thai stalls, offering Italian, Indian, German, plus the obligatory insect stall for creepy-crawly cravings.

Elsewhere

Coffee

Drinking water
It is possible to refill your empty water bottles with drinking water using these blue vending machines. One baht refills approximately one liter. Using one saves money and a lot of plastic waste.

Hospitals

 * Overbrook Hospital (semi-private) Founded in 1903 by Dr. William A. Briggs, as a missionary hospital.
 * Kasemrad Sriburin General Hospital, Private hospital.
 * Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Public hospital.
 * Fort Mengraimaharaj Hospital, Military public hospital.
 * Chiang Rai Inter Hospital, Private hospital.
 * Bangkok Hospital - Chiang Rai, Private hospital by BDMS chain.

Go next

 * The royal villas and mountaintop temple views at Doi Tung, you can hire a car with driver for about 1,600 baht for the day, plus fuel, and you go where you want to go.
 * Visit Thailand's northernmost town at Mae Sai and pop across the border to Tachileik, Myanmar (no visa needed)
 * The remnants of China's Kuomintang army, who now peddle tea instead of opium at Mae Salong
 * Go northeast to the Golden Triangle, where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet, and formerly a major opium-growing region
 * Go east to Chiang Khong and cross the Mekong to Huay Xai, Laos
 * Go south to Chiang Mai

title: Chiang Rai


text:
Chiang Rai Province

Chiang Rai Province is a region in Northern Thailand.

Cities

 * - gateway to Laos
 * - the provincial capital
 * - historic city just south of the Golden Triangle

Other destinations

 * Doi Tung — royal villas and a mountaintop temple with stunning views and (so they say) the Buddha's collarbone
 * Golden Triangle — a bit of a tourist trap, but the opium museums are worth a visit
 * Mae Sai — Thailand's northernmost town, day trips to Myanmar
 * Mae Salong — founded by Chinese Nationalists fleeing after their defeat in the war
 * Phu Chi Fa — one of the highest peaks of Northern Thailand, offering outstanding views

Understand
Populations have dwelled in Chiang Rai since the 7th century and it became the centre of the Lanna Thai Kingdom during the 13th century. The region, rich in natural resources and textiles, was occupied by the Burmese until 1786.

Chiang Rai Province’s Golden Triangle bordering Laos and Burma was once the hub of opium production which had much influence on cultural practices and lifestyles. To this day, entire clans live together in bamboo houses and each village has its own individual character.

The province is rich in natural attractions and antiquities, evidence of its past civilisations. It is also home to various hill tribes who follow fascinating ways of life. Chiang Rai is also a tourism gateway to Burma and Laos.

Geography
Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province and a beauty it is. It occupies the Kok River basin well above sea level with an area of some 11,678 square kilometres. It is about 785 km from Bangkok. Mostly mountainous, it reaches the Mekong River to the north and borders both Myanmar and Laos.

Culture
Popualtions have dwelled in Chiang Rai since the 7th century and it became the centre of the Lanna Thai Kingdom during the 13th century. The region, rich in natural resources and textiles, was occupied by the Burmese until 1786.

Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, and Doi Mae Salong are three substantially different places. Chiang Saen’s rich culture has been influenced by its collection of Buddhist scriptures and temples. It was once the provincial capital. Mae Chan’s reputation stems from its silver and tribal handicrafts. Once officially unrecognized by the Thai government, Doi Mae Salong is a Chinese KMT (Kuomintang) area renowned for its natural beauty and unique Yunnanese culture. Besides the Chinese 93rd Infantry Division of the Kuomintang Army, several other ethnic minorities have settled down in the region including the Tai Yai, Tai Lue, Tai Khoen and Tai Yuan.

People

 * Akha have the largest population of any hill tribe in the region. Originating in Tibet and Southern China, they dwell on high ground, about 1,200 m above sea level. In their villages they build spirit gateways to protect themselves from evil spirits.
 * Chin Hor, former Kuomintang who took refuge in the area, mainly Doi Mae Salong.
 * Hmong from southern China, prefer high ground. They raise livestock and grow rice, corn, tobacco, and cabbage. They are known for their embroidery and silver.
 * Karen live in the valleys and riverbanks of the region.
 * Khon Muang are city folk who came to Thailand from Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, and Phrae. Culturally, they design their houses having only one floor with wooden gable-decorations called ka-lae. They are known for their craftsmanship in wood carving, weaving, lacquer ware, and musical instruments.
 * Lahu came to Thailand from Yunnan and live in high areas. They are known as hunters and planters.
 * Lisaw from southern China and Tibet are renowned for their colourful dress and for building their dwellings on stilts. They harvest rice and corn and are skilled hunters.
 * Tai Lue live in single room wooden dwellings built on tall piers. They are skilled weavers.
 * Tai Yai Burmese in origin, harvest rice, farm, raise cattle and trade. Their skills lie in weaving, pottery, wood carving, and bronze ware.
 * Yao reside on mountainsides and grow corn and other crops. They are skilled blacksmiths, silversmiths, and embroiderers.

By plane
Chiang Rai has flights to Bangkok (both airports, multiple flights per day), Hat Yai and Phuket.

By train
The nearest train station is in Chiang Mai.

By bus
The 12-hour journey from Bangkok can be made on air conditioned coaches originating from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) daily. Call -66,, or The Transport Company, Ltd.. Chok Rung Tawee Tour, call -6,. Siam First Tour, call -4,,. Sombat Tour,, ,

There are services from Chiang Rai's bus terminal to various districts in Chiang Rai. For local buses to nearby provinces, call Chiang Rai bus terminal, for details.

By car
Hwy 1 (Phaholyothin Rd) is the main road in Chiang Rai Province. It passes through the areas of Phan Mae Lao, Muang, Mae Chan and Mae Sai districts. Along the highway, there are links to other districts in the province, such as Rte 108 to Mae Suai, Rte 1126 to Pa Daed, Rte 1233 to Wang Whai and Rte 1016 to Chaing Saen.

From Bangkok drive on Hwy 32 to Singburi, then take Hwy 11 to Phare, and Hwy 1103 to Chiang Rai. The route is 829 km.

By bus
There is a decent enough bus service in the province, but in more remote areas, songthaews (public passenger pick-up vehicles) are the norm.

See
Visitors to Chiang Rai can expect to see some splendid mountain and valley views, while being blessed with excellent weather which is much cooler than in the central plains.

Many visitors choose to spend some of their time in Chiang Rai visiting fascinating hill tribes such as the Akha, Lisaw, Hmong, Lahu, Karen, Mien, and Yao. Many visitors go with a certified guide, but other simply go on their own. It is possible to stay overnight with the villagers. Solo travellers not going with a guide should stay with the village headmen; a small donation is welcome.

Sadly, some opportunists exploit hill tribe people to extract money from tourists. A village just near the road between Mae Sai and Chiang Rai (it is frequented by tourist minibuses returning from the Golden Triangle) is privately-owned, and, while entrance to the village is free, visiting long-necked Karen people there costs 200 baht. Most tourists (and backpackers) have already paid this price in their tour package, thinking that 1,000 baht or more for a day trip is "cheap". The poor Burmese Karens working there for tourists get only a tiny fraction of the money. Their home, Burma (Myanmar), is one of the poorest countries of the world. It is just a tourist trap. It's better to visit a remote, but genuine, Karen village, than to help rich people make money from the poor.

When trekking off the beaten track and away from hill tribes, it is possible to sleep at any temple, but again a little donation is appreciated.

Itineraries

 * Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in 3 days a 3-day tour starting from Chiang Mai and going through Doi Ang Khang, Fang, Thaton, Doi Mae Salong, Mae Sai, Golden Triangle, and finishing in Chiang Mai.

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

title: Chiang Rai Province


text:
Chiang Saen

Chiang Saen (เชียงแสน) is a city in Chiang Rai Province, just south of the Golden Triangle.

Understand
Once one of the major cities of the Lanna kingdom, it was originally called Wiang Hiran Nakhon Ngoen Yang and served as the capital before King Mengrai established Chiang Rai in 1262. The town was captured by the Burmese in the 16th century and sacked by King Rama I in 1803. Left a ghost town for a hundred years, it was repopulated around 1900, but still hasn't really staggered to its feet. Traces of old double city walls and many other antiquities still remain in and outside the town.

By bus
Chiang Saen is connected by local bus to Chiang Rai (2-2.5 hrs, nominally. 3-4 per hour but tend to depart when reasonably full, 37 baht). There are a few, 3-4 per day, long-distance buses which can do the trip in 1.5 hrs, but times are more convenient for long-distance journeys such as going to or from Chiang Mai or Bangkok than for commuting to Chang Rai. Blue songthaews also travel from Mae Sai via the Golden Triangle to Chiang Saen in about 1 hour. The timetable for this service is chalked up at the depot which is next to the bus stop. These seem to depart every half hour or so. The service from the Golden Triangle to Chiang Saen seems to be much more irregular. The service varies with customers available and the flow of life along the Mekong and the Myanmar border.

The bus station and songthaew depot is about 50 m before the main road (Hwy 1016) ends in a T-intersection on the banks of the Mekong River.

There does not appear to be any regular public transport south to Chiang Khong and the Lao border crossing, apart from the occasional songthaew. Ask locally for details of this service as departures times vary.

By car
The district can be reached by taking Hwy 110 from Chiang Rai for some 30 km. Then take a right turn onto Hwy 1016 and proceed on for another 30 km.

By boat
It's possible to charter a boat carrying up to 8 people along the Mekong to Chiang Khong (1.5 hr) for around 1,500 baht, or up to Sop Ruak (Golden Triangle) for less (around 40 min).

See
Like Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen has a city wall surrounding the historic town, with the fourth "wall" provided by the Mekong River.

There are also several ancient sites outside the city wall including Wat Phra That Pha Ngao (วัดพระธาตุผาเงา), a place for dharma practice. Wat Chedi Ched Tod (วัดเจดีย์เจ็ดยอด) is a peaceful place, 1 km beyond Wat Phra That Pha Ngao. Wat Phra That Chom Kitti (วัดพระธาตุจอมกิตติ), about 1.7 km from town, and Wat Sangkha Kaeo Don Han (วัดสังฆาแก้วดอนหัน) where sketches on brick slabs tell stories about the life of the Lord Buddha.

Do

 * Loi Krathong Festival The festival day usually falls in the month of November depending on the Thai lunar calendar.
 * Loi Krathong Festival The festival day usually falls in the month of November depending on the Thai lunar calendar.

Eat
In the evening, many local food stalls set up shop along the bank of the Mekong north of the T-junction. The tables set are small, and you sit on a mat on the ground as locals do. Menu in English and Thai. Try the bamboo chicken and/or bamboo fish (cooked inside bamboo on charcoal fires).

If you walk north beyond the night market, to where the road turns away from the river, there are several eateries sharing a covered terrace above the river. Parking is available. These provide a cafe/basic restaurant setting. The food available at all these outlets is excellent value with a similar but not identical set of standard dishes to choose from at each outlet. The quality is more than adequate, more basic good value rather than exquisite, but the dishes are well-prepared, cooked to order, and taste authentic. The service is pleasant and the beer is cold. The cooks take pride in their work

There is a small restaurant opposite the new banking establishments halfway down the main drag (on your left as you face the river). The food is perfectly adequate and one will not be disappointed. The value is good and the beer is cold. The service is good and the owners are trying hard.

Sleep
Accommodations in Chiang Saen are limited. Fancier digs are to be found in the Golden Triangle, just north of Chiang Saen.

Go next

 * Chiang Khong, for the border crossing to Laos
 * Chiang Rai, the largest city in these parts
 * Golden Triangle, the point where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet
 * Mae Sai, Thailand's northernmost city
 * Ferry along the Mekong between the borders of Laos and Myanmar (no visas required for these two countries) to Jinghong, China

title: Chiang Saen


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Chianti

Chianti is an area of Tuscany, Italy made famous by the red wine of the same name. It has much to offer for a visitor interested in wine, food and natural beauty. Many of the wineries are open for a tour and a tasting, and some offer accommodation services as well.

Cities

 * (Greve in Chianti)
 * (Greve in Chianti)
 * (Greve in Chianti)

Understand

Chianti is above all a wine zone. It is not an administrative region and includes parts of the Tuscan provinces of Florence, Siena, Arezzo and Pisa. The Chianti DOCG appellation is divided into seven subregions (Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rufina), of which Classico is the most famous.

The Chianti Classico region in turn is defined by the towns between Florence and Siena: Greve, Panzano, Castellina, Gaiole and Radda. Almost all the famous Chianti estates are located near one of these towns, although Rufina is to the east of Florence.

In addition to the red wine, many producers make the dessert wine Vin Santo del Chianti as well as "Super Tuscan" wines that do not adhere to the DOC regulations. Some also make olive oil.

Get in
From abroad, usually the best way to reach Chianti is to fly to an airport in Tuscany, such as the Pisa or Florence airport, or some other major airport in Italy. Alternatively, from Central Europe one might want to take a train to Italy. Once in Italy and preferably in Tuscany, you have to find your way to Florence; this will be easy as the city has good train connections to the rest of the country. From Florence there are several alternatives to get to Chianti: rental car, bus, taxi, etc.

Precise instructions are difficult to give since it depends so much on from where you are departing and exactly where you will be staying (in Florence, in Siena, in Greve, or some other place in the region).

Get around
Chianti is easiest to explore with a car. The most likely place to begin the trip is Florence, where rental services are abundant. The most important road to know is the Chiantigiana from Florence to Siena, as it penetrates the heart of the region, Chianti Classico.

Without car, the region is accessible with SITA buses from Florence. The hills of Chianti are a magnificent place for bike tours. Cycling you can enjoy at best the beautiful landscape of this region. You will rarely be cycling in flat roads, but you will also seldom have to climb steep passes (only, beware of the hot hours of the day in the summer). You can start from Greve, for example, where you can rent a bike.

See
For someone interested in museums, churches and such things it is not necessary to leave Florence or Siena. However, the Chianti area can be an excellent base from which to explore Tuscany as whole without having to stay in these crowded cities. The countryside is beautiful, and absolute gems that should be visited are the hamlets of Montefioralle and Volpaia, and the beautiful towns of Greve, Panzano, Radda and Castellina.

Do

The region is an invaluable treasure for those who are interested in exploring the eno-gastronomic culture of Tuscany.

See also: Wine tourism

With serious competition only from a few neighboring regions in Tuscany and from Piedmont, Chianti is one of Italy's prime wine regions. The best way to tour the wineries and sample their products is on the last Sunday of May when many producers throughout Italy open their doors for the festival of Cantine Aperte. Tastings are free and reservations unnecessary, so if you like wine and happen to be in Tuscany at the time, this is a fantastic opportunity for you. You should however keep in mind that not all the wine produced in Chianti is exceptional and that some of the best producers do not even participate in Cantine Aperte, so it makes sense to plan ahead and be choosy.

Olive groves are also the region's pride, and while it is not normally possible to visit an oil press, olive oil can be purchased directly from the producers. Olives are pressed in November and December and the olio nuovo or new oil, which is very piquant for the first several months, is especially prized on bruschetta and ribollita.

Eat
Food in the region is very commonly made with Chianti, in cases of wine sauces, and is in any case well paired with a glass of Chianti. You may want to choose more robust Chiantis with food like cinghiale (wild boar) or bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine-style charred steak) than with pasta, but it's quite common to have a quartino or share a bottle of the house Chianti with an entire meal in trattorie in the region. Of course, if you are a lusty drinker or with a larger group, you can more easily choose one bottle with the primi piatti (pasta or soup) and another with the secondi piatti (usually fowl or red meat in this region).

If you have access to your own cooking facilities, you may want to follow the cook's adage that food tastes better when you use a good wine in your sauces, and then drinking some of that same wine with the meal brings out the flavours of both the food and the wine better.

Drink
If you want to go to Chianti, the natural assumption is that you want to drink the wine. It is made with the sangiovese grape, although lesser quantities of other grape varieties may be added. There are different philosophies of making Chianti: some prefer traditional blends with sangiovese and other local grapes (including white ones), some use international varieties such as merlot, and finally there are those who use only sangiovese for their Chianti.

The taste of the wine depends a lot on the producer's decisions, but also on the exact place where the vines are grown. Sangiovese is known as a rather difficult grape to grow, and differences in the land affect the taste of the resulting wine. Traditionally Chianti is a light wine with high acidity with a slightly bitter but fruity taste and berry aromas. As international markets demand high-fruit, high-alcohol wines, Chianti is changing as well, and more modern versions have a fuller, although less recognizable taste.

Sleep
There are lots of lovely hill-top towns in Chianti with plenty of good hotels and B&Bs. However, if you want to get away from the traffic and noise, then this is your chance to stay in one of dozens of 'agriturismi' in the area, working farms that also rent out apartments or rooms to travellers who would like to experience at close hand the Chianti countryside. It makes good sense to pick a central location and to use this as a base for your trips to Florence and Siena, as well as your trips to the beautiful towns and villages, like Castellina in Chianti, San Gimignano, Panzano, Radda, and so on.

title: Chianti


text:
Chiapas

Chiapas is a state in southern Mexico. It is a large state with remote archaeological sites deep in the jungle, national parks with sparkling mountain lakes, deep canyons, and spectacular waterfalls. It is cultural gem, with many Mayan communities preserving ancient traditions. Chiapas is about as far south as you can get in Mexico. It borders Guatemala on the southeast, the Pacific on the southwest, and the states of Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Tabasco from west to northeast.

Cities

 * — the state capital: a large, urban area that is home to one of the world's great zoos
 * — a nice fishing village on the Pacific coast of the state
 * — a small, sleepy village close to Palenque
 * — the oldest Spanish city in Chiapas, starting point for Sumidero Canyon boat trips
 * — surprisingly sophisticated, a popular weekend destination
 * — gateway to the Mayan ruins of Toniná
 * – rural towm on the edge of the Montes Azules National park. Famous for the ecotourism center of Las guacamayas - a preservation centre of the Scarlet Macaw.
 * — a beautiful traditional Mayan city, lots of handicrafts, small ex-pat community
 * — Tsotsil indigenous village
 * — Mexico's main border city with Guatemala on the Pacific coast area

Nature

 * — a series of waterfalls on the Xanil River
 * — a single waterfall of 35 m in height that falls into a single, almost circular, pool amidst tropical vegetation
 * — canyon and reservoir (includes Christmas Tree Falls)
 * — the largest lake in the Lacandon Jungle at 40 km in diameter
 * — Ecotourism in the heart of the tallest mangroves in North America
 * — a national park with 59 multi-colored lakes in a pine forest and two Maya ruins
 * — active volcano that was presumed dormant until violently erupting three times within a few weeks in 1982, destroying 9 villages and killing 1,900 people
 * — active volcano on the border between Mexico and Guatemala, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Archaeological Sites
Chiapas is part of the historic territory of the Maya civilization with more than 1,000 known sites in the state. Some of the largest, most famous, and most accessible to travelers area:

 * — well known for its murals and Maya ruins
 * — oldest, and one of the largest of the Mayan cities
 * — ruins that have some of the finest sculpture, architecture, roof combs, and bas-relief carvings of the Mayan era
 * — Maya ruins with temple-pyramids set on terraces rising 71 metres above a plaza, a large ballgame court, and over 100 carved monuments
 * — Maya ruins known for its well-preserved sculptured stone lintels set above the doorways of the main structures

Understand
The name "Chiapas" is believed to have come from the ancient city of Chiapan, which in Náhuatl means "the place where the chia sage grows".

History
Hunter gatherers began to occupy the central valley of the state around 7000 BC, but little is known about them. The oldest civilization to appear in what is now Chiapas is that of the Mokaya, who were cultivating corn and living in houses as early as 1500 BC, making them one of the oldest in Mesoamerica. There is speculation that these were the forefathers of the Olmec, who are also regarded as one of the oldest in Mesoamerica. One of the Mokaya ancient cities is now the archeological site of Chiapa de Corzo.

During the pre-Classic era, most of Chiapas was not Olmec, but had close relations with them, especially the Olmecs of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Development of this culture was agricultural villages during the pre-Classic period with city building during the Classic as social stratification became more complex. The Mayans built cities on the Yucatán Peninsula and west into Guatemala. In Chiapas, Mayan sites are concentrated along the state's borders with Tabasco and Guatemala, near Mayan sites in those entities.

Mayan civilization is marked by rising exploitation of rain forest resources, rigid social stratification, fervent local identity, and waging war against neighboring peoples. At its height, the Maya had large cities, a phonetic writing system, and development of scientific knowledge, such as mathematics and astronomy. Cities were centered on large political and ceremonial structures elaborately decorated with murals and inscriptions. Among these cities are Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilan, Chinkultic, Toniná and Tenón. The Mayan civilization had extensive trade networks and large markets.

Nearly all Mayan cities collapsed around the same time, 900 AD. It is not known what ended the civilization but theories range from over population size, natural disasters, disease, and loss of natural resources through over-exploitation or climate change. From then until the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century, social organization of the region fragmented into much smaller units and social structure became much less complex.

The first contact between Spaniards and the people of Chiapas came in 1522, when Hernán Cortés sent tax collectors to the area after the Aztec Empire was subdued. By 1530 almost all of the indigenous peoples of the area had been subdued with the exception of the Lacandons in the deep jungles who actively resisted until 1695. The first Spanish city, today called San Cristóbal de las Casas, was established in 1528.

Soon after, the encomienda system was introduced, which reduced most of the indigenous population to serfdom and many as slaves as a form of tribute and way of locking in a labor supply for tax payments. New diseases brought by the conquistadors and overwork on plantations dramatically decreased the indigenous population. The Spanish established missions, mostly under the Dominicans. The Dominican evangelizers became early advocates of the indigenous' people's plight, and got a law passed in 1542 for their protection. The encomienda system that had perpetrated much of the abuse of the indigenous peoples declined by the end of the 16th century, and was replaced by haciendas. However, the use and misuse of Indian labor remained a large issue in Chiapas politics into modern times.

The Spanish introduced new crops such as sugar cane, wheat, barley and indigo as main economic staples alongside native ones such as corn, cotton, cacao and beans. Livestock such as cattle, horses and sheep were introduced as well. Most Europeans and their descendants tended to concentrate in cities such as Ciudad Real, Comitán, Chiapa and Tuxtla. Intermixing of the races was prohibited by colonial law, but widely ignored, and by the end of the 17th century there was a significant mestizo population. Added to this was a population of African slaves brought in by the Spanish in the middle of the 16th century due to the loss of native workforce.

During the Mexican War of Independence in the 1810s, a group of influential Chiapas merchants and ranchers sought the establishment of the Free State of Chiapas. However, this alliance did not last as the lowlands preferred inclusion among the new republics of Central America, and the highlands annexation to Mexico. In 1821, a number of cities in Chiapas declared the state's separation from the Spanish empire. With the exception of the pro-Mexican Ciudad Real (San Cristóbal) and some others, many Chiapanecan towns and villages favored a Chiapas independent of Mexico and some favored unification with Guatemala. Elites in highland cities pushed for incorporation into Mexico. In 1822, Emperor Agustín de Iturbide decreed that Chiapas was part of Mexico, but the Soconusco region maintained a neutral status until 1842, when Oaxacans occupied the area, and declared it reincorporated into Mexico.

In the decades after the end of the war, the state's society evolved into three distinct spheres: indigenous peoples, mestizos from the farms and haciendas, and the Spanish colonial cities. Most of the political struggles were between the latter two groups especially over who would control the indigenous labor force.

Liberal land reforms of the 19th century had negative effects on the state's indigenous population unlike in other areas of the country. Liberal governments expropriated lands that had been held by the Spanish Crown and Catholic Church in order to sell them into private hands. However, many of these lands had been in a kind of "trust" with the local indigenous populations, who worked them. Many of these lands fell into the hands of large landholders who then made the local Indian population work for three to five days a week just for the right to continue to cultivate the lands. Many became "free" workers on other farms, but they were often paid only with food and basic necessities from the farm shop. If this was not enough, these workers became indebted to these same shops and then unable to leave.

The opening up of these lands also allowed many whites and mestizos to encroach on what had been exclusively indigenous communities in the state. The changing social order had severe negative effects on the indigenous population including alcoholism and indebtedness. One other effect that liberal land reforms had was the start of coffee plantations, especially in the Soconusco region. The land reforms brought colonists from other areas of the country as well as foreigners from England, the United States and France. These immigrants introduced coffee production and modern machinery. Eventually, this production of coffee would become the state's most important crop.

In 1891 Governor Emilio Rabasa took on the local and regional landowners and centralized power into the state capital. He modernized public administration, transportation and promoted education. He also changed state policies to favor foreign investment and land consolidation for the production of cash crops such as henequen, rubber, guayule, cochineal and coffee. The economic expansion and investment in roads also increased access to tropical commodities such as hardwoods, rubber and chicle.

These new crops required cheap and steady labor to be provided by the indigenous population. By the end of the 19th century, the four main indigenous groups, Tzeltals, Tzotzils, Tojolabals and Ch’ols were living in "reducciones" or reservations, isolated from one another. Conditions on the farms of this era was serfdom, leading to the Mexican Revolution. While this coming event would affect the state, Chiapas did not follow the uprisings in other areas.

In the early 1930s, Governor Victorico Grajales pursued President Lázaro Cárdenas' social and economic policies including persecution of the Catholic Church. These policies would have some success in redistributing lands and organizing indigenous workers but the state would remain relatively isolated for the rest of the 20th century.

There was political stability from the 1940s to the early 1970s. In the mid-20th century, the state experienced a significant rise in population, which outstripped local resources, especially land in the highland areas. Economic development in general raised the output of the state, especially in agriculture, but it had the effect of deforesting many areas, especially the Lacandon. Added to this was there were still serf-like conditions for many workers and insufficient educational infrastructure. Population continued to increase faster than the economy could absorb. In Chiapas poor farmland and severe poverty afflicted the Mayan indigenous population which led to unsuccessful non-violent protests and eventually armed struggle started by the Zapatista National Liberation Army in January 1994.

These events began to lead to political crises in the 1970s, with more frequent land invasions and takeovers of municipal halls. This was the beginning of a process that would lead to the emergence of the Zapatista movement in the 1990s.

In the 1980s, a large wave of refugees came into the state from Central America as a number of these countries, especially Guatemala, were in the midst of political turmoil. The arrival of thousands of refugees politically destabilized Chiapas. Camps were established in Chiapas and other southern states, and mostly housed Mayan peoples. However, most Central American refugees from that time received no official status, estimated by church and charity groups at about half a million from El Salvador alone.

In the 1980s, the politicization of the indigenous and rural populations of the state that began in the 1960s and 1970s continued. In 1980, several communal land organizations joined to form the Union of Unions. It had a membership of 12,000 families from over 180 communities. By 1988, this organization took over much of the Lacandon Jungle portion of the state. Most of the members of these organization were from Protestant and Evangelical sects as well as "Word of God" Catholics affiliated with the political movements of the Diocese of Chiapas. What they held in common was indigenous identity vis-à-vis the non-indigenous.

The adoption of liberal economic reforms by the Mexican federal government clashed with the leftist political ideals of these groups, notably as the reforms were believed to have begun to have negative economic effects on poor farmers, especially small-scale indigenous coffee-growers. Opposition coalesced into the Zapatista movement in the 1990s. Although the area has extensive resources, much of the local population of the state, especially in rural areas, did not benefit from this bounty. In the 1990s, two thirds of the state's residents did not have sewage service, only a third had electricity and half did not have potable water. Over half of the schools offered education only to the third grade and most pupils dropped out by the end of first grade.

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) came to the world's attention when on January 1, 1994, EZLN forces occupied and took over seven towns. Although it has been estimated as having no more than 300 armed guerrilla members, the EZLN paralyzed the Mexican government, and the rebellion became a national protest against the government. The armed conflict was brief, mostly because the Zapatistas did not try to gain traditional political power. They focused more on trying to manipulate public opinion in order to obtain legal and economic concessions from the government.

As of the first decade of the 2000s the Zapatista movement remained popular in many indigenous communities. The Zapatista movement has had some successes. The agricultural sector of the economy now favors commonly-owned land. In the last decades of the 20th century, Chiapas's traditional agricultural economy has diversified somewhat with the construction of more roads and better infrastructure by the federal and state governments. Tourism has become important in some areas of the state, especially in San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque. However, Chiapas remains one of the poorest states in Mexico.

Read

 * The Lawless Roads by Graham Greene. Graham Greene describes his journey to San Cristobal de las Casas through Chiapas and Tabasco in the 1930s. (ISBN 0140185801)
 * The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. A whiskey priest, a corrupt church, and Chiapas all set in one of Greene's most powerful books. (ISBN 0140184996)

Talk
Most people will speak Spanish, but this is less common among the indigenous peoples, where Mayan languages are common, including significant numbers who speak the Tsotsil and Tseltal Mayan variants. Very few can speak English, almost always very badly.

By plane
Chiapas has a small international airport in the state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez and in Tapachula  on the Guatemala border. Some parts of Chiapas are most easily reached by flying into Villahermosa in Tabasco.

By bus
Buses are the most common way to travel in this region. Most intercity buses from other parts of southern Mexico will serve Tuxtla Gutierrez where you can transfer to smaller regional bus lines to reach smaller towns and other destinations. The most extensive bus service in Chiapas is provided by ADO, which operates several company bus stations in smaller markets and has routes from Villahermosa (M$460 as of January 2023), Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Oaxaca, and Coatzalcoalcos in southern Veracruz.

First-class buses can also be used to travel from major Central America cities to Chiapas using TicaBus, which serves the Tapachula bus station. Other Guatemalan bus companies also serve Tapachula.

By car
The most flexible way to get in and around in Chiapas is by renting a car and driving. Some major routes are toll roads. Important highways coming into Chiapas include:
 * MEX 190 goes from Oaxaca to Tuxtla Gutierrez.
 * MEX 145D goes from Coatzalcoalcos, Veracruz to Tuxtla Gutierrez.
 * MEX 195 goes from Villahermosa, Campeche to Tuxtla Gutierrez.

By train
Mexico's new intercity rail system, the Tren Maya, has one station in Chiapas, at Palenque. This is the terminus point of the train. The station is one of the smaller Tren Maya stations with a single platform between two tracks. Sleeper trains are available between Palenque and Cancun.

Get around
The easiest way to get around within cities is probably by private car, taxi, or colectivo. Colectivos are small vans or buses that are very cheap and follow specific routes. The main destinations on the route of each colectivo are listed on the right side of its windshield, though it is sometimes hard to tell if it is really going your way. Asking the driver usually works, but don't expect him or her to speak English.

Outside of cities, the best way to get around is by private car, bus (slow, with frequent stops), colectivo (a little more expensive than in the city), taxis, or pickups (camionetas). Taxis outside of cities charge very high rates if it is not their regular route, so make sure the driver knows you do not want a viaje especial (special trip). Sharing taxis is very common, and almost universal outside cities. The pickups that are for public transportation are usually identifiable. Try to get a seat in the cab, unless you enjoy being pressed against a large group of sweaty locals in the hot sun. Pickups are also fairly slow and make frequent stops, but they are faster than the bus.

See
There are three main tourist routes: the Maya Route, the Colonial Route and the Coffee Route.

The Maya Route runs along the border with Guatemala in the Lacandon Jungle and includes the sites of Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilan along with the natural attractions of Agua Azul Waterfalls, Misol-Há Waterfall, and the Catazajá Lake. Palenque is the most important of these sites, and one of the most important tourist destinations in the state. Yaxchilan was a Mayan city along the Usumacinta River. It developed between 350 and 810 CE. Bonampak is known for its well preserved murals. These Maya sites have made the state an attraction for international tourism. These sites have many of structures, most of which date back thousands of years, especially to the 6th century. In addition to the sites on the Mayan Route, there are others within the state away from the border such as Toniná, near the city of Ocosingo.

The Colonial Route is mostly in the central highlands with a significant number of churches, monasteries and other structures from the colonial period along with some from the 19th century and into the early 20th. The most important city on this route is San Cristóbal de las Casas, located in the Los Altos region in the Jovel Valley. The historic center of the city is filled with tiled roofs, patios with flowers, balconies, Baroque facades along with Neoclassical and Moorish designs. It is centered on a main plaza surrounded by the cathedral, the municipal palace, the Portales commercial area and the San Nicolás church. In addition, it has museums dedicated to the state's indigenous cultures, one to amber and one to jade, both of which have been mined in the state. Other attractions along this route include Comitán de Domínguez and Chiapa de Corzo, along with small indigenous communities such as San Juan Chamula. The state capital of Tuxtla Gutiérrez does not have many colonial era structures left, but it lies near the area's most famous natural attraction of the Sumidero Canyon. This canyon is popular with tourists who take boat tours into it on the Grijalva River to see such features such as caves (La Cueva del Hombre, La Cueva del Silencio) and the Christmas Tree, which is a rock and plant formation on the side of one of the canyon walls created by a seasonal waterfall.[90][131]

The Coffee Route begins in Tapachula and follows a mountainous road into the Suconusco regopm. The route passes through Puerto Chiapas, a port with modern infrastructure for shipping exports and receiving international cruises. The route visits a number of coffee plantations, such as Hamburgo, Chiripa, Violetas, Santa Rita, Lindavista, Perú-París, San Antonio Chicarras and Rancho Alegre. These haciendas provide visitors with the opportunity to see how coffee is grown and initially processed on these farms. They also offer a number of ecotourism activities such as mountain climbing, rafting, rappelling and mountain biking. There are also tours into the jungle vegetation and the Tacaná Volcano. In addition to coffee, the region also produces most of Chiapas’ soybeans, bananas and cacao.

The state has many ecological attractions, most of which are connected to water. The main beaches on the coastline include Puerto Arista, Boca del Cielo, Playa Linda, Playa Aventuras, Playa Azul and Santa Brigida. Others are based on the state's lakes and rivers. Laguna Verde is a lake in the Coapilla municipality. The lake is generally green but its tones constantly change through the day depending on how the sun strikes it. In the early morning and evening hours there can also be blue and ochre tones as well. The El Chiflón Waterfall is part of an ecotourism center located in a valley with reeds, sugarcane, mountains and rainforest. It is formed by the San Vicente River and has pools of water at the bottom popular for swimming. The Las Nubes Ecotourism center is located in the Las Margaritas municipality near the Guatemalan border. The area features a number of turquoise blue waterfalls with bridges and lookout points set up to see them up close.

Still others are based on conservation, local culture and other features. The Las Guacamayas Ecotourism Center is in the Lacandon Jungle on the edge of the Montes Azules reserve. It is centered on the conservation of the red macaw, which is in danger of extinction. The Tziscao Ecotourism Center is centered on a lake with various tones. It is located inside the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, with kayaking, mountain biking and archery. Lacanjá Chansayab is located in the interior of the Lacandon Jungle and a major Lacandon people community. It has some activities associated with ecotourism such as mountain biking, hiking and cabins. The Grutas de Rancho Nuevo Ecotourism Center is centered on a set of caves in which appear capricious forms of stalagmite and stalactites. There is horseback riding as well.

Volunteering

 * Volunteer as a Human Rights Observer in the autonomous Zapatista communities contact Capise (brigadas@capise.org.mx) for short (5 days) activities or for longer volunteership contact Frayba.
 * Participate as a volunteer or group coordinator on sustainable projects in Maya communities. The NGO NATATE focuses on the following fields: alternative technologies, waste management, water(capture and filtering), Education, reforestation, construction. Opportunities are available for short and long term voluntary service.

Buy
Local artisans produce several unique items of popular folk art that are different from other regions. Chiapas is known for its woven cloths that feature exquisite embroidery. They are also known for their ceramics and jewelry.

The jewelry made in Chiapas is often based on amber and feature Maya symbols and designs. This is quite different from the silver jewelry found in most Mexican states.

Ceramic production is most commonly associated with the town of Amantengo del Valle where everything from fine decorative ceramics to functional terracotta pots is made. In the artesania markets you will often find locally made figurines of jaguars, parrots, or other animals painted in colors and patterns distinctive to the Maya culture.

Eat
Like the rest of Mesoamerica, the basic diet has been based on corn, and Chiapas cooking retains strong indigenous influence. One important ingredient is chipilin, a fragrant and strongly flavored herb and hoja santa, the large anise-scented leaves used in much of southern Mexican cuisine. Chiapan dishes do not incorporate many chili peppers as part of their dishes. Rather, chili peppers are most often found in the condiments. One reason for that is that a local chili pepper, called the simojovel, is far too hot to use except very sparingly. Chiapan cuisine tends to rely more on slightly sweet seasonings in their main dishes such as cinnamon, plantains, prunes and pineapple are often found in meat and poultry dishes.

Tamales are a major part of the diet and often include chipilín mixed into the dough and hoja santa, within the tamale itself or used to wrap it. One tamale native to the state is the "picte", a fresh sweet corn tamale. Tamales juacanes are filled with a mixture of black beans, dried shrimp, and pumpkin seeds.

Meats are centered on the European introduced beef, pork and chicken as many native game animals are in danger of extinction. Meat dishes are frequently accompanied by vegetables such as squash, chayote and carrots. Black beans are the favored type. Beef is favored, especially a thin cut called tasajo usually served in a sauce. Pepita con tasajo is a common dish at festivals especially in Chiapa de Corzo. It consists of a squash seed based sauced over reconstituted and shredded dried beef. As a cattle raising area, beef dishes in Palenque are particularly good. Pux-Xaxé is a stew with beef organ meats and mole sauce made with tomato, chili bolita and corn flour. Tzispolá is a beef broth with chunks of meat, chickpeas, cabbage and various types of chili peppers. Pork dishes include cochito, which is pork in an adobo sauce. In Chiapa de Corzo, their version is cochito horneado, which is a roast suckling pig flavored with adobo. Seafood is a strong component in many dishes along the coast. Turula is dried shrimp with tomatoes. Sausages, ham and other cold cuts are most often made and consumed in the highlands.

In addition to meat dishes, there is chirmol, a cooked tomato sauced flavored with chili pepper, onion and cilantro and zats, butterfly caterpillars from the Altos de Chiapas that are boiled in salted water, then sautéed in lard and eaten with tortillas, limes, and green chili pepper.

Sopa de pan consists of layers of bread and vegetables covered with a broth seasoned with saffron and other flavorings. A Comitán speciality is hearts of palm salad in vinaigrette, and Palenque is known for many versions of fried plaintains, including filled with black beans or cheese.

Cheese making is important, especially in the municipalities of Ocosingo, Rayon and Pijijiapan. Ocosingo has its own self-named variety, which is shipped to restaurants and gourmet shops in various parts of the country. Regional sweets include crystallized fruit, coconut candies, flan and compotes. San Cristobal is noted for its sweets, as well as chocolates, coffee and baked goods.

Drink
While Chiapas is known for good coffee, there are a number of other local beverages. The oldest is pozol, originally the name for a fermented corn dough. This dough has its origins in the pre-Hispanic period. To make the beverage, the dough is dissolved in water and usually flavored with cocoa and sugar, but sometimes it is left to ferment further. It is then served very cold with much ice. Taxcalate is a drink made from a powder of toasted corn, achiote, cinnamon and sugar prepared with milk or water. Pumbo is a beverage made with pineapple, club soda, vodka, sugar syrup and much ice.

Pox
Pox is a fascinating distilled spirit with deep roots in the Tzotzil Mayan culture. The drink is a cross between whisky and rum being based on both grain and sugar cane. Most pox is fairly light in color and flavor and resembles rum more closely than it does whisky. Traditionally, the grain used to produce pox was corn and mostly traditional heritage varieties connected to Tzotzil rituals. Modern producers frequently dispense with tradition and instead use cheap GMO corn, or worse, no corn at all. The sugar used in pox is generally in the form of piloncillo, a crude (relatively unprocessed) brown sugar. Although pox is bottled and exported to other countries (including the U.S.), the mass market export varieties are invariably inferior, made with cheap ingredients using shortcut industrial processes. Good, well-crafted pox rarely travels outside Chiapas.

Pox is bottled young (unaged) and is a clear spirit, typically 80 to 100 proof (40-50% alcohol). Good pox can be sampled neat, though it is good in most cocktails that call for rum (particular tropical drinks like mai tai or daiquiri).

Tasting a well-made traditional pox reveals a drink with more complexity than a typical white rum. The pox often has smoky notes, though this isn't from any roasting process, but rather is contributed by the heritage varieties of corn and is a signature of a good pox.

Flavored varieties are common throughout Chiapas, typically herbs and spices or fruits. Some common flavored poxes include: cocoa, hibiscus (jamaica), rosemary, tamarind, and mango.

Stay safe
Be aware of your personal belongings all the time, and do not walk with jewelry and expensive objects in sight. Chiapas is usually a secure state, where the warmth of people will make you feel at home.

Much of the northeastern portion of Chiapas is fully or partially under the protection of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, or the EZLN. These areas have declared themselves as autonomous, and are referred to as the Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities, or MAREZ. The EZLN have been in this area since 1 January 1994, the day that NAFTA went into effect. Though they might wear black masks and carry guns, they likely will not harm you unless you are shouting praises of the Mexican army. The EZLN are not a gang or cartel; they are a decentralized organization dedicated to libertarian socialist principles who oppose the exploitative capitalist practices and destructive environmental policies of the Mexican government. Many of the people living under the Zapatista umbrella support their presence, as they provide many essential public services that the Mexican government has been unable, or unwilling, to provide. Though relations between the EZLN and the Mexican government have been rather peaceful in the 21st century, skirmishes between them have been known to occur. There are also anti-Zapatista militias who have carried out massacres of EZLN members and suspected sympathizers. Respect their rules when you are in their territory, stay aware of any potential flashpoints, and you will probably be fine.

Go next

 * Oaxaca - 10 hours on the bus.
 * Guatemala - About 10 hours to Guatemala City.
 * Tabasco - About 4 hours to Villahermosa.
 * Campeche - About 10 hours on the bus.
 * Regular flights to Mexico City, Guadalajara and other major destinations in Mexico.

title: Chiapas


text:
Chiaramonte Gulfi

Chiaramonte Gulfi is a town (pop.8000) in the province of Ragusa.

By car
From Ragusa take the SP.8 (14km)

From Catania take the SS194 and SS.514.

From Comiso SP.7

By bus
There are buses toRagusa and from the stop at Coffa to Catania.

By train
The railway line passing Chiaramonte was closed in 1956 and the station was abandoned. The nearest railway station are in Comiso and Ragusa.

By plane

 * Catania Airport, 87 km away, is the busiest airport in Sicily.
 * Palermo airport is 262 km from Chiaramonte Gulfi.
 * Palermo airport is 262 km from Chiaramonte Gulfi.

Get around
Walk.

title: Chiaramonte Gulfi


text:
Chiayi

Chiayi (嘉義), also spelled Jiayi, is the main city of the Chiayi region, southern Taiwan. It is surrounded by Chiayi County.

Understand
Chiayi City is a laid-back, friendly country town of around 270,000 people and is the access point for trips to the scenic mountain area of Alishan. If you are on your way to Alishan, note that it is not necessary to stay in Chiayi, as buses leave quite frequently.

High Speed Rail
HSR Chiayi (Taibao) station is on the high-speed line between Taipei (1½ hr, NT$1,080) and Kaohsiung. The HSR station is over 15 km out of town, but linked to the city by the Chiayi BRT system.

Taiwan Railway
Chiayi is also served by mainline TRA trains and the scenic narrow-gauge Alishan Forest Railway to Alishan, which both leave from the same station, but have separate ticketing counters. Long-distance buses leave from the terminal immediately outside the station, but local buses (notably those to nearby hot spring town Guanzihling) use the Zhongshan Rd bus terminal a few hundred meters down the street.

The Alishan Forest Railway was severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009. As of January 2015, the train runs from Chiayi to Fencihu only, with the remainder of the line still closed for repairs. The local lines within the recreation area are operating normally.

Get around
The Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has three lines, with the main line linking the HSR and TRA railway stations. The trip between the two takes around 30 minutes (NT$40, exact change - no charge if going directly between the HSR & TRA stations), but note that the BRT stop is on the rear side of the TRA station, so you need to take the pedestrian bridge to cross to the other side. The location of the TRA station is not obvious from the BRT stop. If coming from the direction of the HSR railway, after you get off at the stop, cross to the other side of the street at the intersection you have just passed. The "back station" area is still under construction - bear to the right and you should find the pedestrian bridge. If coming from the TRA station, go to the far left when facing the station from the outside (past the taxi queue) and you will find signs and a pedestrian bridge upstairs that leads to some patchy BRT signs - BRT is on the ground floor, usually bus terminal 1 (likely to be a queue of other people) for a free ride to the HSR station.

Buses have announcements and signage in English as well as Chinese.

Taxis are plentiful, especially around the train stations, and some pidgin English is spoken.

Buses to Alisan cost about NT$236-250 one way, and can be bought at the bus station next to the train station. The ride takes 2-2½ hours. There are also some gypsy cabs that will drive you to Alisan, too.

See
The best way to get to know Chiayi is to take a walk down Culture Road, and not just once but a few times, back and forth. There are also two movie theaters where you can experience watching both Western movies and Chinese-language movies in a theater packed with local Taiwanese viewers, young and old. There is a good bookstore called Hon-too Bookstore with a wide range of English-language magazines which you can peruse at your leisure. For some quiet downtime, Chiayi Park and Botanical Gardens are a lovely way to spend the afternoon. The Botanical Gardens provide pleasant trails that weave you through a large variety of plants and trees native to the area. Ponds hold Japanese koi fish, turtles, and frogs. Chiayi park is well-maintained and serves as a center of activity for local adults—and senior citizens—and children from 05:00 to late in the afternoon.

Sports
Do visit the 1931 Kano baseball museum, which houses old photographs of the famous Chiayi high school team from 1931.

Buy
Culture Road (site of the "Wunhua Rd Night Market", see below) is Chiayi's main shopping street. Another shopping street, but more commercial and less cool, is Zhongshan Road (中山路) which stretches from the main train station to a roundabout public fountain area at Culture Road.

One specialty chain store on Zhongshang Road is the "Guang Nan" (光南), which sells small electronics and other media-related goods. Catch a good deal on cables and computer accessories here, along with VCDs of Taiwan dramas/Japanese anime/American films (subtitled in traditional Chinese).

There are two night markets in Chiayi, but the most famous and the best is the Culture Road night market. The other night market, also fun and tasty, is the Carrefour Night Market next to the Carrefour store along Bo Ai Road.

Eat

Chiayi is famous in Taiwan and among tourists for its turkey rice (火雞肉飯), a popular dish of turkey strips and a savory sauce ladled over the white rice. It's available at many sidewalk shops and indoor eateries around town, NT$20-40.

Drink
Chiayi has many roadside tea shops and quite a few karaoke lounges, and a few pubs and bars, too.

Sleep
There are a number of business and tourist motels just outside the TRA Chiayi station.

Go next

 * Alishan — one of Taiwan's best known scenic mountain areas
 * Guanziling — a quiet and very rural hot spring resort
 * Chung Cheng University, one of Taiwan's most beautiful university campuses, is 30 minutes by bus from Chiayi City.

title: Chiayi


text:
Chiayi County

Chiayi County (嘉義縣) a southwestern region of Taiwan surrounding but not including Chiayi City.

Regions
Chiayi County is divided into 2 cities, 2 urban townships, 13 rural townships and 1 mountain indigenous township. Taibao City is the seat of Chiayi County and is home to Chiayi County Government. The Chiayi County Council is however located in Puzi City.

Cities

 * (太保市)
 * (朴子)

Understand
Chiayi County borders Mount Yu to the east, Taiwan Strait to the west, Tainan City to the south and Yunlin County to the north. It spans over 1,903 km², about 5.35% of the area of Taiwan. Chiayi County is located along the Tropic of Cancer.

By train
Chiayi County is connected to other parts of Taiwan by the HSR network by and the TRA network via the following stations:

By plane
The city is accessible by plane via. The airport operates flights by UniAir to Penghu and Kinmen.

By boat
provides ferry services to Magong City, Penghu.

By train
The county is also home to the historic Alishan Forest Railway. The majority of the stations built along the railway were built between 1910 and 1912; some have since fallen into disuse and others have been renovated to cope with the demands of tourists.

title: Chiayi County


text:
Chiba

Chiba (千葉) is the largest city in Chiba prefecture, Japan. Practically speaking, it can be considered a large suburb of Tokyo.

Understand
The name "Chiba" may sound sexy to fans of martial artist Sonny Chiba (who actually hails from Fukuoka) or William Gibson's science fiction novels, since the "Tokyo-Chiba urban sprawl" is where much of Neuromancer (ISBN 0441569595) is set. Chiba is also where the anime Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない, lit. My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute) takes place, and you can see the Chiba Urban Monorail in the opening of the anime.

Alas, Gibson's dystopian cyberpunk visions are difficult to correlate with the reality of modern-day Chiba, which is mostly an unremarkable suburban city notably lacking in "techno-criminal subcultures". Still, the area still makes a reasonably interesting day trip from Tokyo if you have time to spare and prefer high technology toys over mouldering temples, and Oyumino has some nature trails for a spot of hiking.

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

By plane
The JR Narita Line links Chiba directly to Narita's international airport. A few N'EX limited expresses stop at Chiba on their way to Tokyo, but usually the ordinary rapid service trains are a better bet.

By train
Train is the obvious means of arrival, as a dense web of routes links Chiba to Tokyo and points in the vicinity.

 * The JR Sōbu Rapid Line (総武快速線) runs from Tokyo Station's underground platforms to Chiba station via Kinshichō and Tsudanuma. Rapid trains reach Chiba in approximately 40 minutes at a cost of ¥620; you have the option, especially during the evening rush, of shelling out an additional ¥810 for a reserved seat on a limited express train, which make the run to Chiba in as little as 25 minutes.
 * The JR Chuō-Sōbu Local Line (中央・総武線「各駅停車」) runs directly across the Yamanote Line loop, via Shinjuku and Akihabara. Local trains take about 70 minutes to reach Chiba from Shinjuku on a regular service; this is shaved a little if you change to a Sobu Rapid train at Kinshicho. In either case the fare is ¥780.
 * The JR Keiyō Line (京葉線) runs from Tokyo Station to Chiba Minato and Soga stations along the coast (45 minutes, ¥740), via Maihama (Tokyo Disneyland), Nishi-Funabashi and Kaihin-Makuhari.
 * The private Keisei Chiba Line (京成千葉線) runs into Chiba-Chuō (千葉中央) station from Tsudanuma station on the Keisei Main Line (from Ueno and Nippori).

By bus
Airport Limousine buses link Chiba to Haneda and Narita Airports.

By monorail
The two lines of the suspended Chiba Urban Monorail (千葉都市モノレール), the world's longest suspended monorail, are an attraction in themselves, connecting the port (千葉みなと Chiba Minato) to Chiba station and then branching out to the northwest and northeast.

See

Kaihin-Makuhari
On the western outskirts of the city in Mihama Ward and accessible on the JR Keiyo line (Kaihin-Makuhari Station, 海浜幕張駅), this is a showcase "city of the future", similar to Tokyo's Odaiba but grander and more artificial in scope.

Oyumino

 * Four seasons roads (四季の道) There are four nature trails named Spring Road, Summer Road, Autumn Road and Winter Road. If you go to Spring Road in spring, you can enjoy beautiful flowers and plants bloom in spring. Some people just walk through and some people jog in these roads.
 * Sakura Park (さくら公園) is a park which has many beautiful cherry blossom trees.When spring comes, a lot of people come to enjoy seeing them.
 * Izumiya park (泉谷公園) has fireflies in this park, but you cannot see them often because they have been protected carefully.
 * Oyumi-cho fireworks festival (生実町花火大会) is one of the biggest festivals in Oyumi-cho and is held in August every year. About 3500 fireworks are launched, and countless viewers enjoy dancing and having traditional foods there.
 * Rokutsu Temple (六通神社) was built in 1677 (the Edo era). At that time, many farmers tried to develop this area and building the temple was one of their activities. It is not so huge but has been loved by local people. In September 2007, Chiba was hit by a typhoon, and the temple was destroyed, but people living in the area decided to use the community chest for its restoration. Finally, it was repaired and reborn by local people. It has been a symbol of Oyumino and is still cherished.

Do

 * Baseball Marines fans are considered to be the most enthusiastic in Japan, something immediately recognizable during the bottom of the first inning by fans of MLB ball. Also unique to Japanese ball, beer is sold primarily by young women dressed up in uniform carrying large tanks on their backs. Marine Stadium is located on the water, a 5-minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari station and tickets prices as of 2007 begin at ¥1800. It is advisable not to get tickets in right field unless you want to be surrounded by overly jubilant fans.
 * Cinema There is a movie theatre right next to the Keisei Miramare Hotel, about a 10-minute walk from Chiba Station, that shows major first run western (mostly American) movies in English (with Japanese subtitles).
 * Cruises heading (according to the brochure) "into the heart of the industrial port area" are available from Chiba Port. No signs of Gibson's shoals of styrofoam though.
 * Football There's a stadium in Soga- take the Uchibo or Sotobo line from Chiba, only 2 stops- which will be home to JEF United, one of the most exciting teams in the JLeague. The stadium is less than a 10-min walk from the West exit of Soga station.

Eat

 * Around Chiba station There's no shortage of places to eat in the vicinity of the central station. If sushi is your thing, head for the restaurant in Perie, the underground mall beneath the station area. Just go down the stairs immediately in front of the ticket gates at the station's east exit.

 * The Chiba Station building is a good spot to eat pasta, sweets, and so on. If you want to eat lunch, you will find many restaurants on C1 street. For example, there is a steak restaurant, Hokaben (a Japanese bento shop), Goemon (a pasta restaurant), and Sukiya (Japanese meat dish on rice). On Sunday, a lot of people come to the area, so the restaurants are crowded. However, there is usually enough space.

 * Western Food There are several western-style restaurants in and nearby Chiba for Americans who are feeling a little homesick and need a break from the excellent Japanese food found in Chiba. Many nonchain restaurants that purport to have Western food will be a disappointment to Americans. One such example is Upper Float, near Chiba Station, which bills itself as a Mexican restaurant, but is not at all authentic to Mexican or Tex-Mex food. It does have serviceable margaritas, and is a popular hangout for expats - mostly British and Australian male English teachers in their 20s and early 30s, and the Japanese women who come there to meet them. The best bet for a full-service American restaurant is Outback Steakhouse, in Kaihin-Makuhari. They have menus in English, and the atmosphere and food is exactly like that found in an American Outback Steakhouse.

Drink

 * There is a fun gaijin-friendly bar/dance club called Ocean Deep 5 min from Chiba Station. You will see the blue neon lights reading Ocean Deep when exiting the train. Different theme every night from belly dancing, salsa, and DJs costume parties. Good food and a vast variety of special drinks.
 * There is a good, gaijin-friendly bar called "The Joint", which is about 15 min from Chiba Station. During the football season you can catch live Premiership games and there is usually a DJ playing something funky. They serve actual pints if you drink Kilkenny- a real breath of fresh air compared to the usual nama biru served in every izakaya.
 * On the 22nd floor of the Sen (1000) City Tower (about 5 min from JR Chiba) there is an izakaya called Amataro. It's a chain, so don't expect anything unusual in terms of food or drink, but the high level offers a nice view of Chiba city.

Go next

 * Surrounding Chiba Prefecture offers an escape from technological utopia.
 * Tokyo Disneyland Resort, a stop on the railway between Tokyo and Chiba, offers a return to it. Take the JR Musashino Line or JR Keiyo Line. Get off at JR Maihama Station (South Exit).

title: Chiba


text:
Chiba (prefecture)

Chiba Prefecture (千葉県 Chiba-Ken) is located directly east of Tokyo, and bordered by Ibaraki Prefecture to the north. A large part of the prefecture is made up of the Bōsō Peninsula (房総半島 Bōsō-hantō), which shields Tokyo bay from the Pacific Ocean.

Understand
Much of the western/northwestern part of Chiba is relatively uninspired urbanity and bedtowns for Tokyo, but once you get past the city and watch the sharp descent into rural countryside of sprawling rice fields, rolling hills, and striking coastlines, you will realize why Chiba has been variously called "Edo's Breadbasket" and "Tokyo's Secret Backyard".

The area is relatively poorly known, even among Japanese people, but is nonetheless a great place to get away from Tokyo and explore a Japan a bit off the beaten track.

Many parts of Chiba can be visited on a day trip from Tokyo. The Pacific coast is dotted with many traditional fishing villages, and young surfers from Tokyo are attracted by the waves. The inner coast is less picturesque, but the cliffs of Nokogiriyama are a popular tourist attraction.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Chiba is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * — eponymous capital of the prefecture, which doesn't bear much resemblance to William Gibson's depictions but has a few points of interest.
 * - This city is a bedroom community. Transportation to Tokyo is convenient.
 * — noted for its dramatic sea coast on the Pacific Ocean,and its lighthouse.
 * — a regional commercial center and a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo.
 * — a residential city that us home to a wild bird observatory and a zoological & botanical garden.
 * — a suburban shopping haven.
 * — home of famous Katori-Jingu Shrine, the historic streets of Sawara, and the bi-annual Sawara Matsuri festival.
 * — an old fishing town on the southwestern pacific Boso ("Sotobo") coast. Famous for its Katsuura Hinamatsuri Doll Festival and katsuo tuna catch.
 * — connected by the Tokyo Bay Aqualine bridge-tunnel to Kawasaki, it hosts a number of factory outlet shopping malls.
 * — a city in northwestern Chiba, bordering Edo River and Tokyo. Residence of the Tokugawa Akitake, the beloved brother of Japan's last shogun.
 * — hometo the Yatsu-higata tidal flat, a protected wetlands for migratory birds.
 * — a small city rich in historical treasures that is often overshadowed by its huge airport. Home to Narita-san Shinshouji Temple and Boso-no-Mura.
 * — a bedroom city for Tokyo and Chiba, home to the Kikkoman soy sauce empire.
 * — a small town that is a popular spot with surfers and holiday beachgoers.
 * — a small town on the Pacific coast famous for strawberries and surfing.
 * — a small city with important museums, historical houses and a famous tulip festival
 * — home to Tokyo Disney Resort.
 * — a small city next to Chiba City that is famous for its production of peanuts.

Other destinations

 * — town with a museum of Aeronautical Science.
 * — the tip at the south of Chiba, a great area to relax and enjoy the beach.
 * — the first "Magic Kingdom" park built outside the U.S., and Tokyo DisneySea, an ocean-themed park exclusive to Japan.

Get in
While JR trains run the entire coast of Chiba, the inner coast is just a 30-minute ferry ride from Kurihama, south of Yokohama. 1997 saw the completion of the Tokyo Wan Aqua Line bridge and tunnel, which burrows under and rises across Tokyo Bay between Kisarazu (Chiba prefecture) and Kawasaki (on the Tokyo side). The tunnel is not economical at ¥4000 for a passenger car, unless you have an ETC card which brings the price down to ¥1500. You can take highway buses through the tunnel and over the bridge from Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Haneda Airport, Kawasaki and Yokohama stations for up to ¥1500 one way to Kisarazu.

By train

The center of the JR network in Chiba is, unsurprisingly, JR Chiba Station. But be careful when taking trains to the Boso Peninsula, as there are two different ways trains can get to Awa-Kamogawa, the final stop. The Uchibō Line (内房線), or "Inner Boso Line", follows the western coast (Tokyo Bay side) through Kisarazu, while the Sotobō or "Outer Boso" Line (外房線) cuts across the peninsula and then goes down the east coast (Pacific Ocean side) via Katsuura. Additionally, trains to Choshi can turn north at Sakura to go via Narita (the Narita Line), or go south via Naruto along the Sobu Main Line.

To summarize all that, here are the platforms to take at Chiba station:

See

The lower Boso peninsula has several artificial attractions that are popular for family excursions but probably of limited appeal to other travelers:

Also, don't miss:
 * Narita Shinshouji Temple and surrounding traditional shopping streets
 * National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura
 * Tokyo Disney Resort

Eat

 * Fresh fish, e.g. at Banya (fisherman's resthouse on the beach), or in the local specialties Namerou (raw blue-back fish minced with miso) and Oraga-don (seafood on rice).
 * Peanuts
 * Two cities in Chiba prefecture are called City of Soy sauce: Noda (Kikkoman, Kinoene, etc.), and Choshi (Yamasa, Higeta, etc.)

Go next

 * Ibaraki Prefecture
 * Saitama Prefecture
 * Tokyo
 * Kanagawa Prefecture

title: Chiba (prefecture)


text:
Chibemba phrasebook

Chibemba or Bemba is a Bantu language spoken in Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and southern Tanzania. It is the biggest ethnic grouping in Zambia, accounting for over 50% of the Zambian population.

Bemba people (Ababemba) trace their origin from "KOLA" in Angola. There were other people who learnt Bemba when they were working in the copper mines of Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) during the colonial period. The writing system is very phonetic and Spanish speakers would find it very easy to learn. Many Bemba words can also be found in Swahili.

Vowels
a e i o u

Consonants
b c/ch d f g j k l m n ng' ny p s sh t w y

Basics

 * Hello. : . (Muli shani )
 * Hello. (informal) : . (Uli shani )
 * How are you? : Muli shani ?
 * Fine, thank you. : Ndi fye bwino, natolela
 * What is your name? : Niwe nani ishina?
 * My name is ______ . :  ______ . (Ishina lyandi ni ne _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : . (chawama ukukumona)
 * Please. : Napapata,ndekulomba
 * Thank you. : Natotela
 * You're welcome. : . (Eya mukwai )
 * Yes. : (Eee )
 * No. : . Awe / Iyoo
 * Excuse me. Njelelako(getting attention)
 * Oti, Otini
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . (mukwai )
 * I'm sorry. : . (Mbelelako uluse;  mukwai
 * Goodbye : . (Shalenipo; Kafikenio
 * Goodbye (informal) : . (shalapo )
 * I can't speak Chibemba [well]. : [ ]. (Nshaishiba iciBemba sana)
 * Do you speak English? :? (Walishiba ukulanda icisungu ?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? (bushe pali uwaishiba ukulanda ichisungu pano ?)
 * Help! : ! (ngafweniko !)
 * Look out! : ! (moneni uko !)
 * Good morning (afternoon). : . Mwashibukeni,  'mwabombeni ( when the person is busy')
 * Good evening. : . (chungulopo mukwai )
 * Good night. : . (sendamenipo )
 * Good night (to sleep) : . (sendamenipo naya mukutuusha )
 * I don't understand. : . (nshumfwikishe bwino )
 * Where is the toilet? : ? ( ku chimbusu nikwisa?)
 * Please speak slowly :(landa panono panono)

Welcome

mwaiseni (mukwai). (Mukwai added when it's more formal or welcoming people you hold in reverence)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : . ( ndeka fye.)
 * Don't touch me! : ! (wilanjikatamo !) Winjikatamo
 * I'll call the police. : . (nalaita ba kapokola .)
 * Police! : ! (Ba kapokola !)
 * Stop! Thief! : ! ! (kabolala uyo ! mwikateni!)
 * I need your help. : . (njafweniko .)
 * It's an emergency. : . ( ndi mu bwafya.)
 * I'm lost. : . ( ni nduba.)
 * I lost my bag. : . (ni ndufya icola .)
 * I lost my wallet. : . (ni ndufya walleti .):  (ni dufya icikwama)
 * I am sick: . ( nindwala.)
 * : . (ni njichena .)
 * : . (ndefwaikwa shinganga/ dokota .)
 * Can I use your phone? : ? (kuti nabomfyako lamya/ foni yenu ?)

Numbers

 * 1
 * (kamo or cimo )
 * (kamo or cimo )

 * 2 : (fibili or tubili )
 * 3 : (tutatu or fitatu )
 * 4 : (cine )
 * 5 : (fisano )
 * 6 : ( mutanda)
 * 7 : (cine lubali )
 * 8 : (cine konse konse )
 * 9 : (pabula )
 * 10 : ( ikumi)
 * 11 : ( ikumi na kamo)
 * 12 : (ikumi na tubili )
 * 13 : (ikumi na tutatu )
 * 14 : (ikumi na tune )
 * 15 : (ikumi na tusano )
 * 16 : (ikumi na mutanda )
 * 17 : ( ikumi na cine lubali)
 * 18 : (ikumi na cine konse konse )
 * 19 : (ikumi na pabula )
 * 20 : (ama kumi yabili )
 * 21 : (ama kumi yabili na kamo )
 * 22 : ( ama kumi yabili na tutatu)
 * 23 : (ama kumi yabili na tutatu )
 * 30 : ( ama kumi yatatu)
 * 40 : (amakumi cine )
 * 50 : (amakumi yasano )
 * 60 : (amakumi mutanda )
 * 70 : (amakumi pabula )
 * 80 : (Amakumi cine konse konse)
 * 90 : (Amakumi pabula)
 * 100 : (Umwanda umo)
 * 200 : (Imyanda ibili)
 * 300 : (Imyanda itatu)
 * 1,000 : (Ikana limo)
 * 2,000 : (Amakana yabili)
 * 1,000,000 : (Amakana ikana limo)
 * 1,000,000,000 : (Iminshipendwa)
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : ( )
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : ( )
 * half : (pakati, citika)
 * less : (ukucepako)
 * more : (ukucilapo, lundenipo )

Time

 * now : ( nombaline)
 * later : ( limbi )
 * before : (taulati )
 * morning : (ulucelo )
 * afternoon : (akasuba )
 * evening : (icungulo )
 * night : ( ubushiku)

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : ( )
 * two o'clock AM : ( )
 * noon : ( )
 * one o'clock PM : ( )
 * two o'clock PM : ( )
 * midnight : (pakati kabushiku )

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : ( )
 * _____ hour(s) : ( insa)
 * _____ day(s) : (ubushiku )
 * _____ week(s) : (umulungu )
 * _____ month(s) : (umweshi )
 * _____ year(s) : (umwaka )

Days

 * today : (lelo )
 * yesterday : (mailo )
 * tomorrow : (mailo )
 * this week : (uno mulungu )
 * last week : (uyu mulungu wapwile )
 * next week : (uyu mulungu uleisa )

 * Sunday : (pa Sondo ):  (pa mulungu)
 * Monday : (pali cimo )
 * Tuesday : (pali cibili )
 * Wednesday : (pali citatu )
 * Thursday : (pali cine )
 * Friday : (pali cisano  )
 * Saturday : (pa cibelushi )

Months

 * January : (Akabengele kanono)
 * February : (Akabengele kakalamba)
 * March : (Kutumpu)
 * April : (Shinde )
 * May : (Akapepo Kanono)
 * June : (Akapepo Kakalamba)
 * July : (Cikungulu pepo)
 * August : (Kasakantobo)
 * September : (Ulusuba lunono)
 * October : (Lusuba lukalamba (Langashe)
 * November : (Chinshikubili)
 * December : (Mupundu-milimo)

Colors

 * black : (ukufita )
 * white : ( ukubuta)
 * gray : (ukufitulukila)
 * red : ( ukukashika)
 * blue : (makumbi makumbi )
 * yellow : (mutuntula )
 * green : (katapa katapa )
 * orange : ( )
 * purple : ( kolokondwe)
 * brown : ( )

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : ( tiketi ku Mpika ni shinga?)
 * One ticket to _____, please. : ( Mpeniko tiketi imo)
 * Where does this train/bus go? : (Saca ileya kwi? )
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : ( )
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : (bushe iyi train/bus ile minina mu_________? )
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : (bushe ni nshita nshi yala ima train/bus? )
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : (bushe ni nshita nshi yala fika train/bus )

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : ( Bushe kuti naenda shani pakuya ku......)
 * ...the train station? : (Ichitesheni ce shitima)
 * ...the bus station? : (Citesheni ca saca)
 * ...the airport? : (Cibansa ca ndeke)
 * ...downtown? : (Kwisamba lya musumba)
 * ...the youth hostel? : (My ng'anda ya beni imisepela)
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ( )
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ( )
 * Where are there a lot of... : (Bushe kwalibako ...)
 * ...hotels? : (Amayanda ya beni?)
 * ...restaurants? : (Amayanda ya kulilamo?)
 * ...bars? : (Ifikulwa fya bwalwa?)
 * ...sites to see? : (Incende sha kumona?)
 * Can you show me on the map? : (Nangako pali mapu wa calo)
 * street : (Mumusebo)
 * Turn left. : (Pilibukila ku kuso )
 * Turn right. : (Pilibukila ku kulyo )
 * left : (ukuso )
 * right : ( ukulyo)
 * straight ahead : (Ukuya fye ukwabula ukupilibukila kukulyo nelyo kukuso)
 * towards the _____ : (Ukupalamina mupepi na ...)
 * past the _____ : (Ukucilako pa ...)
 * before the _____ : (pantanshi ya ...)
 * Watch for the _____. : (Lolesha kuli ...)
 * intersection : (Amakumanino)
 * north : (Akabanga)
 * south : (Amasamba)
 * east : (Akapinda ka kukulyo)
 * west : (Akapinda ka kukuso)
 * uphill : (ku mulundu )
 * downhill : (ku mukunkuluko )

Taxi

 * Taxi! : ( )
 * Take me to _____, please. :(Ntawaloko ku............,Napapata )
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? :(Nishinga ukuya ku.............. )
 * Take me there, please. :(Ntwaleniko uko, Napapata )

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? :(Namu Kwatako ama Room ya free? )
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : ( )
 * Does the room come with... : ( )
 * ...bedsheets? : ( )
 * ...a bathroom? : ( )
 * ...a telephone? : ( )
 * ...a TV? :(Ichitunsha tusha )
 * May I see the room first? :(Mukwai mbale mbona kukaki)
 * Do you have anything quieter? :(Bushe namukwata ichiliko tondolo? )
 * ...bigger? : (Ichikulilepo? )
 * ...cleaner? :(kabomba )
 * ...cheaper? :(Ichachipa )
 * OK, I'll take it. :(Ok, Nalasenda )
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). :(Nkekala inshiku........... )
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : ( )
 * Do you have a safe? :(Bushe Mwalikwata umwakusungila indala? )
 * ...lockers? :(umwakusungila ifipe? )
 * Is breakfast/supper included? :(Bushe mulapela ifyakula iluchelo? )
 * What time is breakfast/supper? :(nishita nshi yakulilapo breakfast elo na supper? )
 * Please clean my room. :(Mukwai kuti mwapyanga kukati. )
 * Can you wake me at _____? :(Bushe kuti wakwanisha uku nshibusha............? )
 * I want to check out. :(Na ambako mukwai )

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? :(Bushe mulasumina dollar? )
 * Do you accept British pounds? :(Bushe mulasumina pound )
 * Do you accept euros? :(Bushe mulasumina Euro )
 * Do you accept credit cards? :(Bushe kuti nabomfye Bank card ukulipila? )
 * Can you change money for me? :(Mukwai nchingisheni ko impiya/indalama )
 * Where can I get money changed? : ( )
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : ( )
 * What is the exchange rate? : ( )
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ( )

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. :(Itebulo lya muntu umo/Itebulo lya bantu babili. )
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : (Tulefwaya ka menu )
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : ( )
 * Is there a house specialty? : ( Nga ma Specal?)
 * Is there a local specialty? : ( )
 * I'm a vegetarian. :(Nshilya inama )
 * I don't eat pork. :(Nshilya Inkumba )
 * I don't eat beef. :(Nshilya inama ya ng'ombe )
 * I only eat kosher food. :(Ndya fye inama epela  )
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) :(Mwifusha sana amafuta elyo mukala ipika )
 * fixed-price meal : ( )
 * a la carte : ( )
 * breakfast : ( )
 * lunch : ( )
 * tea (meal) : ( )
 * supper : ( )
 * I want _____. : (Ndefwaya )
 * I want a dish containing _____. :(Ndefywa ichakula ichalakwata...... )
 * chicken: ( inkoko)
 * beef :( inama ya ng'ombe)
 * fish :( Isabi)
 * ham :(inama ya nkumba )
 * sausage :( soseji)
 * cheese :(Chezi )
 * eggs :(Amani )
 * salad :(Saladi )
 * (fresh) vegetables :( Umusalu)
 * (fresh) fruit : ( )
 * bread :(Umukate )
 * toast :(Umukate waku shinga butter elyo ukocha )
 * noodles :
 * rice : (umupunga)
 * beans :(cilemba) pronounced "Chilemba" as 'C' in Bemba is pronounced 'Ch"
 * May I have a glass of _____? :(Ndefwaya.................? )The recipient will know what is meant based on context
 * May I have a cup of _____? :(Ndefwaya..........? ) The recipient will know what is meant based on context
 * May I have a bottle of _____? :(Ndefwaya...................? )
 * coffee : ( kofi)
 * tea (drink)
 * Milk
 * (Umukaka)
 * (Umukaka)

 * juice :(Jusi)
 * (bubbly) water : ( )
 * (still) water :(Amenshi )
 * beer :( Ubwalwa)
 * red/white wine :(Umushanga )
 * May I have some _____? :(Ndefwaya..........? )
 * salt :(Umucele )
 * black pepper : ( )
 * butter : ( )
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( Batata (Man), Ba Mayo (if woman))
 * I'm finished. : ( Napwisha)
 * It was delicious. :(Fwachiwama )
 * Please clear the plates. : ( Kuti mwa teula)
 * The check, please. : ( )

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? :(Mulashitisha ubwalwa? )
 * Is there table service? :(Bushe mulapekanisha? )
 * A beer/two beers, please. :(Ubwalwa bumo/bubili ) suffix 'b'
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. :(Ndefwaya wine )
 * A pint, please. : ( )
 * A bottle, please. :(Ibotolo limo)
 * ...................(hard liquor) and.......................(mixer), please. :(Ubwalwa ubwakila sana nefyaku chefeshako ubukali )
 * whiskey : ( )
 * vodka : ( )
 * rum : ( )
 * water :(Amenshi )
 * club soda : ( )
 * tonic water : ( )
 * orange juice : ( )
 * Coke (soda) :(Coca Cola )
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : ( )
 * One more, please. :(Mpela nakabili/nafuti )
 * Another round, please. :(Mpelako nabumbi. )
 * When is closing time? : (Ni nshita nshi mwisala? )
 * Cheers! : (Chileshe! )

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : (Namukwata iyi in'gandinga? )
 * How much is this? : (Ni shinga ici )
 * That's too expensive. : ( wakula sana mutengo)
 * Would you take _____? :(Bushe Kutimwafwaya...........?)
 * expensive :(umutengo )
 * cheap :(ukuchipa )
 * I can't afford it. :(teti nkwanishe ukulipila )
 * I don't want it. : (Nshilefwaya ici)
 * You're cheating me. : (Ulemfwenga? )
 * I'm not interested. : (..)
 * OK, I'll take it. :(Nalasenda )
 * Can I have a bag? : ( )
 * Do you ship (overseas)? :(Bushe Mulatuma Kubulaya )
 * I need... :(ndefwaya.......... )
 * ...toothpaste. : ( )
 * ...a toothbrush. : (Umuswaki )
 * ...tampons. : . ( )
 * ...soap. : ( sopo)
 * ...shampoo. :(Sopo ya kusambila umushishi )
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : (ka panadol )
 * ...cold medicine. :(umuti wa chifuba )
 * ...stomach medicine. :... (umuti wa mumala )
 * ...a razor. : ( )
 * ...an umbrella. : ( )
 * ...sunblock lotion. :(amafuta ya kuchingililwa kukasuba )
 * ...a postcard. :(Inkalata )
 * ...postage stamps. :(Stampu yankalata )
 * ...batteries. : ( )
 * ...writing paper. :(Ichitpepala Chakulembelapo )
 * ...a pen. : ( )
 * ...English-language books. : ( )
 * ...English-language magazines. : ( )
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ( )
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ( )

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : ( Ndefya ukwasima motoka)
 * Can I get insurance? : ( )
 * stop (on a street sign) : (STOP )
 * one way : ( inshila imo)
 * yield : ( )
 * no parking : ( )
 * speed limit : ( )
 * gas (petrol) station : ( )
 * petrol : ( )
 * diesel : ( )

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. :(Takuli echo ndufyenye )
 * It was a misunderstanding. : ( )
 * Where are you taking me? : (Mulentwala kwisa? )
 * Am I under arrest? : (Mule nkaka? )
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ( )
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. :(Ndefwaya ukulansha/ukulanda no Mwina America/British/Canadian  )
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. :(Ndefwaya ukulanda naba lawyer )
 * Can I just pay a fine now? :(Bushe teti ndipile echo mupinguile apapene? )

title: Chibemba phrasebook


text:
Chibougamau

Chibougamau, population 7500 (2011), is the largest regional centre in Northern Quebec. It was founded as a mining village in 1950, and was incorporated as a municipality in 1954.

History
The area has long been part of the Cree First Nation (Indigenous) territory (the Cree call themselves "Néhinaw" or "Néhiyaw"). It was in the early 17th century that French explorers and traders, including Charles Albanel in 1671, came to the Lake Chibougamau area. However, no permanent European settlements were established at that time.

In the late 19th century, the area attracted the interest of mining prospectors. When gold was discovered in 1903, there were periods of intense exploration. Due to difficulty of access, no lasting development took place until 1949 when copper was exploited, with the opening of a multi-metallic mine in the area. A permanent community was established in 1952. Chibougamau started out as a company town but soon after, in 1954, it was incorporated as a municipality. Many mines have exploited the area since. While still thought of as a mining town, Chibougamau is now also the centre of a large logging and sawmill industry.

By car
From southern Québec, the general route to Chibougamau-Chapais is Route 167 from Lac St-Jean, from where it is possible to travel to Trois-Rivières via Shawinigan and Roberval on Route 155. Western Québec and Ontario are connected to Chibougamau by Route 113, connecting to Route 117 at Louvicourt near Val-d'Or. Both routes are paved and have a speed limit of 90 km/h.

The North Road (Route du Nord), an isolated gravel road, connects Chibougamau to the James Bay Road (Route de la Baie-James).

By bus

 * Operates a bus route two days per week between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau including a stop in Senneterre. Travel time to Chibougamau from Val d'Or is 6 hours and from Senneterre is 4.75 hours. From Val d'Or, there is a route that travels to Montreal and Rouyn-Noranda.

Get around
There is no public transport in Chibougamau. There are two local taxi services on 3rd Street:

See

 * Cree communities: Chibougamau is the largest regional centre to visit the aboriginal Cree communities of Oujé-Bougoumou (47 km west) and Mistissini (86 km north). Oujé-Bougoumou was designed by renowned Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal, who designed the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Québec, and has received UNESCO recognition as a model community due to sustainable development practices and cultural preservation.
 * Wildlife abounds. Bears are sometimes visible at the municipal dump.

Do

 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.
 * Snowmobile trails lead across the province, from Rouyn-Noranda through Chibougamau to the Saguenay.

Eat
All of the following restaurants are located on 3e rue.

Drink
All of the below bars are on 3e rue.
 * Le Rendez-Vous at the Hôtel Chibougamau typically attracts a large aboriginal crowd. Pool table and gaming machines.
 * Le CabArrêt is the local strip club.
 * Le Rendez-Vous at the Hôtel Chibougamau typically attracts a large aboriginal crowd. Pool table and gaming machines.
 * Le CabArrêt is the local strip club.
 * Le CabArrêt is the local strip club.

Sleep
All of the following accommodations are located on 3e rue (Route 167):

title: Chibougamau