text:
Pakse

Pakse (ປາກເຊ) is the capital city of Champasak province in Southern Laos, a small but relatively modern and friendly population center near the borders with Thailand and Cambodia.

Understand
Pakse is the main town and a major transportation hub for southern Laos; if you plan to go to the Bolaven Plateau, Wat Phou, or Si Phan Don, you will probably have to spend some time here. The town is on the Mekong River.

By plane
Another option is Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand. Pakse is far easier to reach from Ubon Ratchathani than from Vientiane. You can enter Laos from Thailand via the Thai - Laos border crossing at Chong Mek, and buy a Laos visa there if you don't already have one (see below). AirAsia offers flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Ubon Ratchathani (departure Bangkok 07:40, arrival Ubon Ratchathani 08:45, and departure Bangkok 18:00, arrival Ubon Ratchathani 19:00, return flights departure Ubon Ratchathani 09:15, arrival Bangkok 10:20 and departure Ubon Ratchathani 19:25. arrival Bangkok 20:30, €33 to €35 one way). Other carriers, such as VietJet or Nok Air, also fly and might even be cheaper.

By boat

There is no regular slow-boat service to Si Phan Don. If you can get a group together, you might be able to rent a private boat. An example fare would be US$250. The boat landing is near the mouth of the Xe Don River.

By bus
Pakse has two bus stations that mainly serve locals. One serves traffic to the north and one to the south. Getting to right station with tuk-tuk is easy if you just tell the driver which place you are heading.

The also called khiw lot lak jet or km-7-us station (tel 251 508) is about 10 km north of the city centre on Route 13. Buses are very slow and have no air condition.
 * Buses to Savannakhet and Thakhek leave from 06:30 to 16:30 every 50 minutes, the trip to Savannakhet (280 km) takes 4 to 6 hours and costs 35,000 kip, to Thakhek 8 to 9 hr and costs 50,000 kip.
 * Buses to Vientiane (680 km) need 16 to 18 hr and cost 100,000 to 150,000 kip (2011).
 * Other buses go to Lao Bao (depart 06:00, 100,000 kip), Hue (depart 06:30, from 500,000 kip) and Da Nang by Da Nang bus (depart 07:00, ffrom 600,000 kip). Some aren't direct buses and you will have to change buses twice.

The (Khiw lot lak paet or Km-8-v´bus station) is 8 km to the south, and costs 40,000 kip by motorbike (can be easily bargained to 25,000 Feb 2020) from the centre, on route 13. You can also pay 10,000 kip for a shared songthaew (Feb 2020).

 * To Si Phan Don (4,000 islands): buses to Muang Khon (120 km, 3 hours, 35,000 kip including ferry) leave from 07:00 to 15:00. You have to take the bus to Ban Nakasang (3 to 4 hours, 30,000 kip) if you want to go to Don Det and Don Khong. It is much more comfortable to take the international buses to Phnom Penh and quit at Nakasong (60,000 kip including ferry). Minibuses head to/from Si Phan Don for 55,000-60,000 kip. For Si Phan Don it's also possible to go to the main bus terminal outside of the city and take a songthaew for 40,000 kip per person. Expect chickens and fish as your companions. Coming to Pakse from Don Det, there are once-a-day bus itineraries leaving the island at 11:00, 60,000 including the boat fare. If you want to save a little money by taking the bus yourself from Nakasong to Pakse, there are about three departures per day but all in the morning.
 * To Bolaven Plateau: there are frequent buses to Paksong (90 min, 15,000 kip) and some buses to Saravan (115 km, 3-4 hr, 25,000 kip), leaving before 14:00. buses to Xekong (135 km, 4 hr, 30,000 kip) leave from 07:00 to 11:00 every hour and go ahead to Attapeu (210 km, 5-6 hr, 40,000 kip, 2011).

VIP buses from Vientiane operate from the near the Champasak shopping centre in the city center. The journey takes about 10 hours and should cost around 170,000-190,000 kip depending on whether you buy the ticket in the bus station or at tour agencies.

There are a number of VIP bus companies, and two of the popular ones are Chitprasom and Kriang Kai. Chitprasom (all sleeper buses) buses operate out of a station close to the shopping centre near the city centre. Kriang Kai (all sleeper buses) operate out of a private bus station 2 km from the town centre near an afternoon food market. A ticket to and from Vientiane will cost 210,000 kip per person when a one-seater bus is available, 170,000 kip to share a double with another stranger, or 250,000 kip for double to be ridden alone if a one seater/sleeper is not available. If a single seater (210,000 kip) is available, 340,000 kip for a double seater/sleeper for either one or two person occupancy (Apr 2011). Chitprasom buses tend to be newer as KK has been around longer and have not updated their buses. When travelling from Pakse to Vientiane, take the KK buses as they will drop you off in the centre of Vientiane where their corporate office is, 2 min walk from the Cultural Hall, free of charge and save the 10,000 kip tuk-tuk ride into the city. All northbound buses, however, do stop at the Vientiane bus station, which is 9 km from the city centre. If you are coming from Don Det and have not bought a through ticket, you can either get off at the KK terminal and buy ticket there with KK, or wait and get dropped in the city, and buy your ticket for Chitprasom.

Warning: women have been groped on these buses. If this happens to you, tell everyone on the bus what happened, and advise the authorities.

Chong Mek border crossing from Thailand
VIP buses from Thailand via the Chong Mek border crossing (on the Lao side it is known as Vang Tao) take about 2 hours and charge US$5/200 baht in Ubon bus station near Big C. If you don't have too much luggage, there are also vans to the border bus station for B100. After crossing into Laos, there is a big food center about 100 m from the border, where transport is waiting. Vans cost 25,000 kip from there to the new market in Pakse.

The Thai-Lao international bus between Pakse and Ubon Ratchani (126 km, 2-3 hr) is much more comfortable. Buses leave Pakse at 08:30 and 15:30, and from Ubon Ratchatani at 07:30 and 15:30, and will wait at the border for everyone to complete border formalities. In Pakse this bus will drop pax off at a bus station on Road 38 about 1 km east of the big Arawan Riverside Hotel. Agents in downtown Pakse book this for 90,000 kip, which includes a ride to the bus station. It may be a bit cheaper if you can get to the bus station yourself and buy a ticket there.

You can buy a Lao visa at the Chong Mek/Vang Tao crossing. However, when entering Thailand without a visa, most nationalities will get a free 15- to 30-day Thai visa stamped into their passport. Thailand only allows 2 overland entries per year, without getting a visa in advance. Check beforehand for the current rules.

There appears to now be an official fee of 10,000 kip to exit Laos at this border. You will be issued a bill and directed to a payment window that issues you a receipt. They may allow you to pay 40 baht if you don't have 10,000 kip.

Get around
If you plan to do the Bolaven Plateau Loop, rent a motorbike or buy a bus ticket beware of the company Lao Adventure(r) Travel. The Lao woman in the office will try to scam you in any possible way just to get money out of your pocket. There are also a lot of reviews on tripadvisor about the bus tickets she tries to sell you for a 'special price'. Apparently the office changes names quite often. On Google Maps you will find it as Laos Keywords Travel. Located on the No. 12 Road, when you come from the north, just shortly before the main road No.13 on the left hand side.

On foot
While the immediate downtown area with the highest concentration of lodging and restaurants is walkable, many things outside are small city center are spread far apart. If you want to see the large open-air market or the movie theater and mall, it may be better to find another means of transportation.

By bicycle
If your accommodation provides bicycles, this is a fast, easy way to get around town.

By tuk-tuk
Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis hang around the main road east of the bridge leading to the airport, as well as near the wet market and in the surrounding street blocks. A trip to Dao Hueang market will cost around 10,000 kip and 20,000 kip to either of the bus stations.

By scooter or motorbike
Travel agencies, guesthouses, and some hotels in the center rent out scooters and motorbikes; common prices are 50,000–70,000 kip/day for a semi-automatic and 90,000–100,000 kip/day for an automatic one.

Like in Luang Prabang, most, if not all, will demand your passport as collateral while renting the bike; passport copies, cash deposits, etc. will not be accepted.

Do
There's not much to do in Pakse. However, it is a good base for travel to the Bolaven Plateau and Si Phan Don.

Pakse can be considered as a staging point for archaeological trips in this part of Laos for two reasons: 1) to visit the Champasak Provincial Museum (listed in See above) as an introduction to local archaeology, and 2) as an alternative to Champasak city as a jumping off point to see Wat Phou. Wat Phou is a designated UNESCO site and is the Lao counterpart to Angkor Wat/Angkor Thom. It's the finest of its genre outside Cambodia. It's possible to organise a day-trip to Wat Phou near Champasak, where you can also stay easily.

Rent a motorbike and head east towards Pak Song (Paxxong). The journey is pretty, and there are heaps of waterfalls to stop by near Pak Song. The Champasak Provincial Tourism Department puts out a few nice brochures including one on the Bolaven Plateau that details these including Tad Fane, Tad Champee, Tad Ueang, and Tad Pha Suam. Admission tends to be the same at every place, 5,000 kip per person, 3,000 kip for the bike.

 * Cinema (outside of the city center) The only cinema outside Vientiane, Major Complex (biggest chain from Thailand) is located at the top floor of the Friendship Mall (known locally as the Fancy Mall) along with some Japanese brands. For Western/Hollywood films, the mall mostly shows movies dubbed in Thai and subtitled in Lao so make sure you check the schedule or ask the counter.
 * Cinema (outside of the city center) The only cinema outside Vientiane, Major Complex (biggest chain from Thailand) is located at the top floor of the Friendship Mall (known locally as the Fancy Mall) along with some Japanese brands. For Western/Hollywood films, the mall mostly shows movies dubbed in Thai and subtitled in Lao so make sure you check the schedule or ask the counter.

Cruises
Mekong Cruises offers a 3 days/2 nights cruise on the Mekong in Southern Laos on board the Vat Phou. The boat has 12 air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms, 2 large open shaded air decks, bar and restaurant.

The cruises starts at Pakse from Oct to Apr on Sa, Tu and Th, in May and Sep on Sa and Tu. You will be transferred to a longtail riverboat for a 2½-hour journey to Champassak. In the afternoon you visit the Vat Phou ruins. On the second day you visit the village of Huei Thamo and the forest temple of Oum Muong. In the afternoon the boat sails closer to the "4,000 Islands". You can walk through Ban Deua Tia, a small Laotian Village where the traditional way of life has not changed in centuries. This day's cruise finishes at the most northern tip of Don Khong, the largest inhabited island in the river archipelago.

On the third day the Vat Phou takes you to the village of Ban Veuthong, where you board a small boat to meander among the 4,000 Islands to Khone Island, visit the old French railway and walk across the bridge that links Khone and Det Islands. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in a small fishing village, Xieng Di, on the banks of the Mekong. A bus brings you to the Pha Pheng waterfall, "the Niagara of the East", close to the Cambodian border. Then you will be brought back to Pakse, arriving there between 17:00 and 17:30, permitting you to reach the evening train or flight from Ubon Rachanthani. The package costs US$725 from Oct to Apr, $615 in Jul/Aug and $580 in May and Sep (2015).

Eat
The majority of restaurants, over 50, are concentrated on the road which runs parallel to the Mekong, a five-minute walk from the main street). Most offer Lao or Vietnamese cuisine and some western dishes, have English menus, and are low-priced. Several restaurants catering to tourists are found near most of the accommodation along and nearby the main street. These are higher-priced but offer more variety in non-Lao food, such as Indian, Italian, Korean, burgers, steaks and pizza.

Alcohol
Enjoy the sunset with a beer Lao at the Mekong River. Go to the French bridge and then head south along the Mekong. After having passed the wat you will come to countless places to have a drink.

Sleep
Most hotels and guesthouses in Pakse can be found along the main street between the French Bridge and the roundabout or a short way into its side streets. Prices in Pakse are very high compared to the rest of the country; even higher than Vientiane. Expect to pay around double what you pay elsewhere in Laos and consider booking ahead.

Connect
These are several Internet cafes on the corner near Nazim's Indian restaurant that charge around 6,000 kip/hr. The smart new Tour Lao Cafe on the south end of the market plaza has Wi-Fi too.

Cope

Visa extensions
Visa extensions are possible at the police station on Rd 10, just down the road from the Salachampa Hotel and Restaurant. The cost is US$2 per day plus a 5,000 kip "form fee." The process is very easy: turn up in the morning with your passport and one photo; fill in a form and come back in the afternoon for your extension.

Nearby

 * The Um Muang ruins are 44 km south of Pakse. The most interesting approach is to travel to Ban Nakham Noi by boat and hike in half an hour to the ruins. Two Khmer sanctuaries and several sandstone nagas and lingas have been built approximately at the same time as Wat Phu. The minor site is covered with moss and not as impressive as Wat Phu. The site has not been cleared of the encroaching jungle.
 * Ban Phapho is 27 km east of Route 13 on the road to Attapeu. Here young elephants are trained for hauling hardwood and rice. There are up to 90 elephants in the elephants' school.
 * Wat Phu is 43 km south of Pakse. It is reached via the village of Champasak, What Phu is an outpost of the Khmer Empire, but not as impressive as Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It makes for a great hour-long boat trip on the Mekong and a 1-hour hike on the mountain to the top of the sanctuary, Allow a full day for this excursion including a minimum stay of three hours at Wat Phu.
 * Don Kho is an island in the Mekong River. Don Kho and the village of Ban XA Phai (15 km north of Pakse) are centers of silk weaving. There are no cars on Don Kho. Most people on Don Kho offer 'homestay' accommodation with a family (30,000 kip per person, dinner 20,000 kip, 2011). Some women offer silk weaving courses (50,000 kip per day) This is a good opportunity to see everyday life in rural Laos. Sawngthaews to Ban Xa Phai depart from the Dao Heuang Market (Morning Market) at Pakse (45 min, 8,000 kip, tuk-tuks or saam-laaw cost kip 60,000. The boat from Ban Xa Phai to Don Kho costs 20,000 kip per person and a boat tour around the island costs 70,000 kip (2011).
 * Phou Xieng Thong NPA is 50 km from Pakse upstream on the Mekong. On the Thai side of the Mekong is the Phae Teaem National Park. Usually 2- or 3-day-trekking tour to Phou Xieng Thong NPA ar offered, with a boat trip on the Mekong, an overnight homestay and a hiking tour to Phou Khong (Khong Mountain). For practical reasons, it is recommended to book this tour at the Tourist Information in Pakse.
 * Bolaven Plateau - about 25 km to the southeast, rent a motorbike. Talk to Sabaidy 2 Hotel for information on a 2-3 day loop and other destinations.

Further away
Three other countries are within a couple of hours on the bus; Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Also see the Get in section for suggestions for places to go next.

 * Si Phan Don - in the far south of Laos, 150 km or so to the south. Also known as 4,000 islands, is less than 3 hours away. Relax here for a few days by the Mekong River.
 * Tadlo - some 100 km to the northeast, a village with waterfalls and trekking opportunities.
 * Savannakhet - another major Lao city, about 5 hours north by bus.
 * Vientiane - among other options, an overnight bus is available (2 people to a bed; snack, blanket and pillow included). Possible to book this at Sabaidy 2 Hotel.
 * Ubon Ratchathani is accessible by bus, and from there Bangkok and other places in Thailand. The border at Vang Tao (Laos) between Chong Mek (Thailand) is open from 05:00 to 20:00. Sawngthaews leave from Talat Dao Heuang (New Market) in Pakse (75 min, 10,000 kip), Taxis charge 20,000 or 25,000 kip per person or 200,000 kip for the full taxi. Vans are also 25,000 kip per person.  The 44 km trip by taxi to Vang Tao takes about 45 min. There is a walk of about 300 m to the Lao and further 100 metres to the Thai border station. The bus station is a few hundred meters further West from the border crossing and from there frequent vans go to Ubon for 100 baht per person.  Thai taxi drivers charge 900 to 1,200 baht for the 1 hr (80 km) drive by air conditioned van to Ubon Ratchani. You can also take a Sawngthaew to Phibun Magsahan (1 hr, 40 Baht) and take another Sawngthaew there to Ubon Ratchani (40 km, 1 hr, 40 Baht, 2011). Tickets from Pakse to Bangkok (14 hr, daily a 15:30, 220,000 kip) and combined bus-sleeper tickets (departure at 15:30, 280,000 kip) are also sold. Buses that go all the way to Ubon, including waiting at the border, can be booked with agents in Pakse for 90,000 kip, including pickup.
 * Vietnam – there are buses to Da Nang and Hue.
 * Cambodia - Travel onward to Cambodia from Pakse with visa-on-arrival facilities in place at the southern border with onward travel to Strung Treng, Kratie, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Check transport providers carefully as there have been reports of people being left at one destination when they were booked for another.

A single bus journey on VIP coach from Pakse to Phnom Penh costs 210,000 kip, and takes 13 hours including one hour at border.

The border procedure is: 20 minutes from the last stop to the border, a man will appear together with other foreign passengers. Holding a stack of passports collected from the foreigners, he will walk the aisle, announcing that the border is near and those who have no visa should make ready their US$30. He distributes the Cambodian entry card and instructs everybody to complete it. Those who already have a visa should make ready their US$6 (the price of the departure stamp on the Laotian side, the entry stamp on the Cambodian side plus the Cambodian immigration card to be filled up included in the passport). This expediter instructs everybody to stay in place in their seats unless they want to unwind and stretch. As soon as he collects everything and the bus stops, he will disappear. After 40 minutes, he will return and hands out the stamped passports, with the visa sticker for those who have none, and the immigration card stamped and stapled.

At the next highway junction on the Cambodian side, the expediter will jump off, his mission accomplished.

It would be wise to leave the processing to the expediter to ensure it's worry- and hassle-free. Not to condone the corruption that may be involved, but because of the ocean of language barrier that keeps the tourist from being well informed and taking decisions correctly, just better leave it to these runners, unless one has the luxury of time.

Warning: For those proceeding to Cambodia by bus and making a pit stop at Pakse, dazed and rudely awoken from sleep, do not ever be convinced to buy VIP bus tickets right away upon setting foot at the bus station. Drivers will talk you into buying them at US$75, a blunder that would have covered the cost of air ticket from Vientiane to Phnom Penh. If you have the stamina to walk with your luggage for about 500 m north where agencies line the main street, you can buy a ticket or better still, flag down a tuk-tuk to the bus station where the Cambodia-bound buses depart.

Alternatively, if you have a spare day, stay for the night (for 100,000 kip) and leave early next morning. Laos Adventure Travel at Rd 12, off the main street a few blocks east of the bridge, (Bhan Lak Muang), is reported to be a little cheaper than other agents.

Direct buses leave for Hue and Danang in Vietnam daily at around 07:30 from the Southern bus station. Bring your own food and water.

title: Pakse


text:
Pakwach

Pakwach is a city in Nebbi.

Get in
It's in NE Uganda on the west bank of Albert Nile at the end of the British railway line that ran from Mombasa (now abandoned). Murchison Falls National Park is across the Nile from the town. 6-hour bus ride from Kampala. There are also buses from Gulu and Arua.

Flights from Entebbe to Arua (2 hours' drive from Pakwach) are daily with Eagle Air.

See
Murchison Falls National Park, Ajai Game Reserve, Fort Wadelai

Go next

 * Kampala

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

title: Pakwach


text:
Pal

Pal in Andorra lies in the northwestern border parish (administrative division) of La Massana and is a skiing village in the same area as Arinsal. It is connected to Arinsal by cable car.

Understand
In 2017, the village had 260 inhabitants.

The historic heart of Pal is built on the left bank of the riu de Pal just upstream from its confluence with the riu del Prat del Bosc 3. Like most Andorran villages, Pal developed on a sunny slope

Get in
La Pal is some 7 km further via the CG5, turning left at Erts and passing through Xixerella.

Pal is accessible by the CG-4 road which connects the village to La Massana via Xixerella and Erts. Pal is 6 km from La Massana and 12 km from the capital Andorra la Vella. After the village of Pal, the road continues to the port of Cabús on the Spanish border.

Get around
Pal is connected to the winter sports resort of Pal-Arinsal (Vallnord area) by the CS-420 road. The station is 2 km south of the village.

See

 * Pal village: This village preserves the typical appearance of the traditional Pyrenean village and Pal has "Special Protection", passed in 1997.
 * The Andorra Romanesque Interpretation Centre is a space presenting the history and specificities of Romanesque art in Andorra, near the Church of Sant Climent.
 * The American artist Dennis Oppenheim created the sculpture Storm in a Teacup erected in the village at Coll de la Botella.
 * The American artist Dennis Oppenheim created the sculpture Storm in a Teacup erected in the village at Coll de la Botella.

Do

 * The Xixerella reserve is a protected natural area of extending north of the village. It has 3 hiking trails.

title: Pal


text:
Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels is a luxury train in Rajasthan, India. Prior to independence, the native maharajas of India had their own fleet of luxury trains. After independence railway was nationalized and the private luxury trains were no longer in operation. In 1981–1982 the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways launched the Palace on Wheels, India's first post-independence luxury train.

Understand

The luxury train is fully air-conditioned and self sufficient, with Wi-Fi connection. The 14 coaches of this train are named after erstwhile Rajputana states, and accordingly are decorated with Rajasthani art and crafts work. The train consists of 39 Deluxe Cabins and 2 Super Deluxe Cabins and has a capacity of 82 passengers. Each cabin is provided with attached toilet, wall to wall carpet and all modern amenities. Each of the cabins is provided with a personal attendant, called khidmatgar. Apart from the cabins, there are two dining cars, called Maharaja & Maharani. The train also comes in with two resto-bar lounges and an ayurvedic spa. The train tour provides overnight travel in royal luxury coaches complete with pre-arranged sightseeing along with food in up class restaurants.

High season rates
October–March is high session
 * Deluxe cabin (single occupancy for 1 person). For Indians ₹ 5,23,600, for foreigners US$ 7700
 * Deluxe cabin (double occupancy for 2 person). For Indians ₹ 6,80,680, for foreigners US$ 10,010
 * Super deluxe cabin (for both single or double occupancy). For Indians ₹ 9,42,480, for foreigners US$ 13,860

Low season rates
April–September is low session
 * Delux cabin (single occupancy for 1 person). For Indians ₹ 4,28,400, for foreigners US$ 6300
 * Delux cabin (double occupancy for 2 person). For Indians ₹ 5,23,600, for foreigners US$ 7700
 * Super delux cabin (for both single or double occupancy). For Indians ₹ 7,06,860, for foreigners US$ 10,395

Get in
Palace on Wheels begins its journey every Wednesday and runs for an entire week leaving the guests back at Safdarjang Train Station, New Delhi, early in the morning. This luxury train is preferred the most by rich people desiring to enjoy travel in India, and thus bookings for the train are done months in advance. Tickets are available on a single, twin and triple sharing basis, and the prices thus differ. However the most convenient way of booking for Palace on Wheels is through agents or opting for online bookings. The train operates August–April.

Go

The Palace on Wheels starts from the national capital, Delhi, and thereafter traverses through the cities of Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra.

The itinerary for Palace on Wheels includes sightseeing tours of these most fascinating cities, providing a preview of Indian culture and lifestyle.

Day 8 (Wednesday)
The Palace on Wheels reaches Safdarjung Railway Station at Delhi at 5:30AM. Breakfast on board. Check out by 7:15AM.

Stay safe
In order to not miss your departure, you might want to play it safe and stay with your group. The streets can prove to be quite confusing.

Go next
The luxury coaches of Palace on Wheels reach its final junction at Safdarjung Train Station, New Delhi early in the morning. Later passengers are served morning meal in the train. Thereafter one can either opt for cool cabs, local taxis or even for a much cheaper auto rickshaw drive for commuting to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi to catch the flight back home.

title: Palace on Wheels


text:
Palacios

Palacios is a city of 4,400 people (2020) on Matagorda Bay in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, 1½-2 hours southwest of Houston. It is especially noted for birding opportunities.

Get in
Most visitors reach Palacios by car, traveling on Texas State Highway 35 which runs along the central Gulf Coast.

Palacios has a small airport for private flights and a harbor connected to the Intracoastal Waterway. The city is also served by a Greyhound bus route running between Houston and Corpus Christi.

Get around
Local transit is mostly by car, although bike routes have been established within the city and a 1.5-mile walk along the seawall is popular with pedestrians.

Connect
Wireless Internet access is available at the Main Inn and Peaceful Pelican Bed & Breakfast.

Go next
To the east of Palacios there are several fine natural areas such as Oyster Lake, Mad Island Marsh and Matagorda Beach.

title: Palacios


text:
Palai

Palai or Pala is a town in Kerala in India.It is a plantation town, which is deeply attached to the plantation of natural rubber.

Understand
It also has trade in spices such as pepper, ginger etc. Indeed, before rubber became common around the middle of 20th century, Palai was noted for its spices. A particular brand of pepper called Palai Pepper was then quoted in the London market.

People of Palai are largely dependent on agriculture, particularly rubber. The good price of natural rubber for nearly half a century has made the people here prosperous. Historically the people are hard-working and attached to land.

Palai can be visited throughout the year but the heavy monsoon months of June and July may be avoided, as roads are likely to be flooded. Also, the extreme summer months of March-May are quite warm and sultry. But like the rest of Kerala temperature rarely goes above 35 °C or below 22°C at any time during the year.

Get in
The nearest airport is about 80 kilometres away at Kochi (Cochin) from where one can travel by road (a 2-hour drive). By rail one can get up to Kottayam, which is about 28 kilometres away by road (45 minutes drive). Taxis are available at both Kochi Cochin airport and Kottayam Railway Station. Buses are also available.

Get around
If you feel like walking, you can easily get around Palai on foot, as the town is only about 5 kilometres across. But an autorikshaw will save you from the heat and the humid weather. Due to the presence of thick vegetation the atmosphere is quite sultry.

Buy
Fresh green pepper (and keep it in brine). Otherwise you can buy dried pepper, the king of spices. Remember, the Dutch East India Company sent a naval contingent from the Netherlands under Captain De Lannoy when they found that pepper supplies were not coming. What happened was that the English East India Company had reached here! That was all about three centuries ago.

Local food

 * A popular Palai dish is the boiled and mashed tapioca, taken with fish curry. Another tapioca preparation is the one boiled in the shape of small drums (drum-cut) which is taken with a mixture of green chillies, onion and coconut oil.
 * Another authentic Palai dish is boiled and mashed jack-fruit, taken with beef curry.
 * Ripe Jack-fruit is another local delicacy. There is also Jack-fruit Halwa a sweet-meat made out of it.
 * Sweet-meats made using condensed palm toddy are the really exotic ones but you have to be lucky to get them, as good quality toddy is not available.
 * If you are less inclined to experiment, Appam (a pan-cake made out of rice flour and coconut) is a safe bet in most parts of Kerala. What generally goes with it is mutton stew, which is an adaptation of the stew that you find in Ireland, or Fish Molly (fish cooked in coconut cream).

Drink
Fresh sweet palm toddy is the best drink possible, but good quality can never be assured unless your host serves it right from the tree. Same is the case with alcoholic palm toddy, as spurious additives are not uncommon. Social drinking in public is frowned upon now, although at one time the place boasted of very high per capita consumption of toddy. Now it seems people think that things have gone too far as even school children started becoming addicts and family quarrels became common.

Sleep
Home-stays are available but not many hotels.

Connect
Internet cafes are there. All telephone networks are also present. There are no formal tourist information facilities here, but you can get essential information from the man on the street. English is understood by most people, provided you speak it with an Indian accent.

Go next

 * Wagamon — quite hill station in the midst of tea plantations
 * Peermade — a hill station on the way to Thekkady
 * Thekkady — hill station and wild life sanctuary
 * Munnar — the leading hill station of Kerala.
 * Muvattupuzha — where three rivers merge
 * Cochin — the main commercial city of Kerala state is 82 km away from Palai

title: Palai


text:
Palakkad

Palakkad is a city in Central Kerala in India. Palakkad is known for its historical background and the remnants of Tippu Sulthan's Fort are still maintained.

Understand
Palakkad lies near a wide low gap or pass in the Western Ghats mountain ranges that separates Kerala from Tamil Nadu. Consequently the city is a major conduit for travel between the two states. Palakkad is 4,480 km² and the population is 2,617,072.

Palakkad is the land of Palmyras and Paddy fields. It is the chief granary of Kerala, often called the Gateway of Kerala. Palakkad lies at the foot of the gigantic Western ghats on the border of Kerala. This city surrounded by mountains, forests and fertile valleys, rivers and mountains streams are rich in flora and fauna.

Malayalam is widely spoken language as the rest of Kerala. However Palakkad is close to the Tamil Nadu border and people understand and speak Tamil well. You won't be very far from a person who speaks perfect English or Hindi just in case you need one.

By plane
The nearest airport is the domestic airport at Coimbatore 50 km away. The nearest international airport is in Kochi. There are three airports in 2-3 hr travel distance (Kochi, Coimbatore and Kozhikode).

By train
Palakkad is well connected and one of the railway divisional headquarters. Serviced by rail from all major cities in India like Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata.

By bus
You can also reach here by bus from big cities like Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Salem. However there is no direct bus from Hyderabad.

By car
Palakkad is well connected to other cities Chennai, Kozhikode, Ooty, Palani, Kodaikanal, Kochi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Salem and Madurai by road. National Highways NH 47 and NH 217 pass through Palakkad.

Get around

 * Bus - Palakkad is well networked by public bus transport. The state runs KSRTC and many private operators operate bus services.
 * Autorickshaw - This is cheap way of transportation between attractions. Rickshaw drivers are generally very polite unlike big cities of India. However, if you are a foreigner trying to get around by yourself, agree on fare before boarding.
 * Taxi - Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. You will have to bargain.
 * Walk - Many attractions in Palakkad like the Tippu's Fort, the Open air Auditorium called "Rapadi", the Stadiums etc are walkable.

See

Other places around Palakkad

Buy
Banana chips and jackfruit chips cooked in coconut oil are good take home food from Palakkad. Freshly fried chips will have a better taste and durability compared to packed chips. If you don't find shops deep frying chips, you can go with packed chips which are available at bakery shops and general shops in Palakkad.

Eat
Due to its traditional Tamil-Brahmin culture, Palakkad has maintained a slight distance from Malabar cuisine, focusing more on vegetarian Tamil foods. In snacks, you can take egg puffs, banana chips and jackfruit chips, while parotta with some masala or biryani is usually taken in dinner. You can also eat dosa, idli or vada. Kalan, a vegetarian dish, is unique to Palakkad.

Go next

 * Agali Hills Hill Station
 * Nelliyampathi a hill station in the Western Ghats, 60 km from Palakkad.
 * Parambikulam wild life sanctuary and boating
 * Silent Valley National Park
 * Malampuzha Gardens

title: Palakkad


text:
Palakkad District

Palakkad District is in Central Kerala, India. The population is 2.8 million and the density is 627 people per sq.km. Palakkad Gap is the only place where Kerala is not shielded by the Western Ghats mountain ranges.

Cities

 * , the district headquarters
 * , Hill station on Coimbatore road
 * , Hindu cultural centre
 * — famous Malampuzha Gardens
 * , riverside town
 * , paddyfield paradise
 * , riverside town
 * , the railway town
 * , the railway town

Other destinations

 * , tribal settlements near Agali.

 * —

 * Nelliampathy Hills: Undulating tea estate and chilly climate with good accommodation available.
 * , Kerala — largest national park in Kerala that is virtually an undisturbed natural area that is home to several endangered or rare species of birds, plants and animals. Sairandhri hosts the visitor center for this park

Understand
The culture of Palakkad district is unique because it is not pure Kerala culture. Centuries of coexistence with the Tamil culture across the Palakkad Gap has given it a unique Tamil flavor.

Get in
There are railway stations in Palakkad, Olavakkod and Shornur. Buses are available from Coimbatore, Kozhikode and Kochi. The nearest airports are at Coimbatore and Kochi.

Get around
Three wheelers charge ₹15 per km and buses are cheap @ ₹7 per for 3 km. Air-conditioned jeeps and cars are available at ₹1,000 for a day.

See

 * Attappady — Tribal villages. 38 km Home of Irulas and Mudugars
 * Chulanur Peacock Sanctuary —
 * Dhoni Reserve Forest — 15 km
 * Jain temple — near the Railway Station
 * Killikkurussimangalam — a cultural centre
 * Malampuzha Gardens — 15 km
 * Mahadeva Kshetram (Kiillikkurussimangalam) —
 * Meenvallam Water Falls (Kalladikode) —
 * Nelliyampathi — 'Ooty of Kerala' hill station.
 * Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary — 135 km
 * Pothundi Dam — with a garden and good views
 * Sholayar Forest — Coffee and Tea estates
 * Silent Valley National Park — 80 km. 'Evergreen forest' with many rare species
 * Tippus Fort — 1 km
 * Walayar Dam — 25 km.

Eat
Palakkad is known for Tamil Nadu style food. The restaurants of Palakkad have issues with hygiene and travelers should take necessary precautions. European food is available only in expensive hotels and resorts.

Drink
There are few decent bars/lounges/pubs/clubs.

Stay safe

 * Palakkad district is vulnerable to attacks from Naxals and Maoists. They once attacked the ticket counter of Silent Valley National Park, Mukkali. As the Maoists are armed and dangerous, be careful when you trek in lonely areas.
 * Leeches are common in the hills. Carry some table salt to pour on them if any get on you. They do not like salt and will release their grip.

Go next

 * Coimbatore — Textile city, 56 km
 * Kochi — coastal paradise, 145 km
 * Kozhikode — Ancient Muslim city, 127 km
 * Madurai — for Meenakshi Temple. 235 km.
 * Ooty — major hill station, 162 km.
 * Tirupur — The export city, 100 km.

title: Palakkad District


text:
Palampur

Palampur is a town in the Himalayan foothills in Himachal Pradesh. It is famous for its mountain scenery and tea gardens. It is also known as Green Valley of Himachal Pradesh because it is famous for plantations

Get in
You can reach Palampur by bus or by train uptil Maranda. The town is well connected by bus routes to neighbouring states. A narrow gauge train is also available and it is a fun travel from Pathankot to Maranda (1 km from main town). Palampur is 5 km from Maranda.

By bus
There is an excellent bus service available from major cities like Delhi (510 km) and Chandigarh (250 km). Himachal Roadways also runs a daily air-conditioned bus service from Delhi to Palampur. HRTC is the best bus to travel from Delhi to Palampur or Vice-versa.

By train
The nearest broad gauge rail-head is Pathankot (112 km) from where a narrow gauge toy train runs. It is a wonderful experience for those who have ample time (it takes around 7 hr from Pathankot to Palampur (Maranda)). Chakki Bank is a station just outside Pathankot that handles a lot of long distance trains arriving from the south and east, as well as Jammu. From here it is possible to take an Auto to Pathankot bus station, and then complete a beautiful 4-hour ride to Palampur on a HRTC bus.

By plane
3 flights run daily from Indira Gandhi Airport (IGI) to Kangra Airport. These include two Spice Jet flights and one Air India flight. The price is reasonable.

See
The whole area is plush with scenic beauty and tea gardens.

 * Mcleodganj to palampur.jpg
 * Mcleodganj to palampur.jpg
 * Mcleodganj to palampur.jpg
 * Mcleodganj to palampur.jpg

Buy
Buy the local Kangra tea from tea shops which are present at various locations around the town. It smells very nice and has a very good flavour.

Eat
There are some restaurants, few best ones are Lounge, Joy, Taj and Golden Dragon. You can also go to Neugal Cafe which is the best sightseeing in Palampur. It is a nice place and has a very beautiful view of Dhauladhar range.

Drink

 * Kangra Tea
 * Jhol (Drink made of preserved rice water)
 * soda (old bus stand palampur)

Go next
Dharamshala is another beautiful town about 36 km from Palampur. It is the home of the Dalai Lama and of many Tibetan refugees. The upper part of town where most Tibetans live is called McLeodGanj.

Andretta is about 14 km from Palampur. It is the home of an exceptional artist: Mr. Shobha Singh. His famous work is preserved in an equally beautiful art gallery in this town. It is a place worth visiting for any art-loving person, but is extremely difficult to get to.

Bir is about 25 km from Palampur and is famous for paragliding and hangliding activities. Paragliding lovers from around the world come here for their sport and to participate in the Paragliding World Cup.

McLeod Ganj is another beautiful town about 42 km from Palampur.

title: Palampur


text:
Palanga

Palanga is a seaside resort in the Samogitia region of Lithuania. It includes a string of smaller resorts from the edge of Klaipėda city to the border with Latvia and the regional airport; in 2023 it had a population of 18,132.

Understand
Lithuania as it emerged from the First World War was landlocked: Klaipėda on the Baltic was the German port of Memel, while points north belonged to Latvia. Lithuania then annexed Klaipėda and exchanged territory with Latvia to acquire a coastline. Palanga lacked a harbour - its unusual L-shaped pier was constructed to compensate, but there was no shelter from wind, waves and ice, and the town was altogether better suited to be a summer beach resort. Its visitors are almost all domestic tourists and few foreigners come here.

is the tourist office, at Vytauto g 94, corner with Kretingas g. It's open M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-16:00.

Get in
Palanga is the closest airport to Klaipėda 36 km south so many arrivals are heading there. Bus 31 runs from the airport to Palanga town and Klaipėda bus & railway station every 30 min.

Vlasava, Kautra and Toks buses run hourly from Vilnius and Kaunas to Klaipėda, where some continue north to Palanga town, the airport and Šventoji. Buses between Klaipėda and Riga rush past on A13 and don't stop at Palanga town or airport. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

the bus station is fairly clean and modern.

By car from Kaunas follow A1 west then take the coast highway A13.

Get around
Taxi operators are Palangos Taksi (+370 460 48000) and Taksi Palangoje (+370 644 44033).

See

 * is L-shaped, built in 1882 to export bricks but soon becoming a leisure spot, especially towards sunset. It has repeatedly been wrecked by storms and ice floes. The last major reconstruction in 1998 extended it to the present length of 420 m. The pier is free to stroll 24 hours.
 * Basanavicius gatvė is the spine of Palanga - many Lithuanian towns have a street named for Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927), leader of the revival of national identity. This one stretches from the pier inland for almost 1 km to Vytauto gatvė. It's a pedestrian mall lined with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, funfairs and souvenir shops.
 * Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary (Švč Mergelės Marijos ėmimo į dangų bažnyčia) is a sturdy redbrick building at Vytauto g 51 opposite the tourist office
 * Botanical Garden is a woodland park surrounding the Amber Museum, open 10:00-dusk. Birute Hill is a forested sand dune, where excavations revealed prehistoric settlements, and now embellished by a little chapel. Dogs are allowed in the park.
 * Botanical Garden is a woodland park surrounding the Amber Museum, open 10:00-dusk. Birute Hill is a forested sand dune, where excavations revealed prehistoric settlements, and now embellished by a little chapel. Dogs are allowed in the park.
 * Botanical Garden is a woodland park surrounding the Amber Museum, open 10:00-dusk. Birute Hill is a forested sand dune, where excavations revealed prehistoric settlements, and now embellished by a little chapel. Dogs are allowed in the park.
 * Botanical Garden is a woodland park surrounding the Amber Museum, open 10:00-dusk. Birute Hill is a forested sand dune, where excavations revealed prehistoric settlements, and now embellished by a little chapel. Dogs are allowed in the park.

Do

 * The beach is sandy and stretches either side of the pier for many km - south to the lagoon outlet at Klaipėda, north to the small resort of Šventoji. The central strip is congested at the height of summer; the further away you go, the quieter it gets.
 * I love Palanga is a live music venue, where Jūratės g ends at the shore 500 m north of Basanavičius g.
 * Palanga Concert Hall is at Vytauto g 43, 200 m south of Church of the Assumption.
 * Palanga Seals (ruonių) is a mass swim in the icy Baltic in February, while those ashore gobble down fish. The next is probably 10 Feb 2024, tbc.
 * Aurum 1006 km is an on-road motor race in several categories, with the next on 19-22 July 2023.

Buy

 * Maxima is a big supermarket by the bus station, with another branch at Plytų g 9a. Rimi is by the concert hall.
 * Amber is the local specialty, with pieces in all price brackets.

Eat

 * Basanavičius g is lined with cheap and cheerful places.

Sleep

 * Many householders in Palanga offer rooms at cheap rates, look for their signs "nuomojami kambariai".

Budget

 * Alka at S Daukanto g 21 is holiday apartments on the fourth floor of the former Alka Hotel, which has otherwise closed.
 * Alka at S Daukanto g 21 is holiday apartments on the fourth floor of the former Alka Hotel, which has otherwise closed.
 * Alka at S Daukanto g 21 is holiday apartments on the fourth floor of the former Alka Hotel, which has otherwise closed.
 * Alka at S Daukanto g 21 is holiday apartments on the fourth floor of the former Alka Hotel, which has otherwise closed.

Mid-range

 * P7 Hotel at Plytų g 7 is the former Gamata.

Splurge

Connect
Palanga and its approach highways have 4G from all Lithuanian carriers. As of June 2023, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Klaipėda is a modern city but has an old quarter around its 13th century castle.
 * Curonian Spit, a short ferry ride from Klaipėda, is a remarkable 99 km line of sand dunes enclosing a lagoon.
 * Liepaja is a large port north across the border in Lithuania.

title: Palanga


text:
Palangka Raya

Palangka Raya (or Palangkaraya) is the capital of the province of Central Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Palangka Raya is a tourist-friendly city with lots of attractions, lodging, and dining. Places like Batu Banama Hill and the Sebangau National Park offer some unique natural entertainment and perspective on the island of Borneo. And traditional foods like Sayur Kelakai, Tempuyak, Kandas (Vegetables) are available.

For orientation purposes, the city of Palangkaraya consists of five sub-districts, namely Pahandut Sub-district, Sabangau Sub-District, Jekan Raya Sub-District, Bukit Batu Sub-District, and Rakumpit Sub-District.

By bus/car
There are buses from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, the trip takes about 3-5 hours. There are also buses travelling west to Pangkalan Bun. Buses arrive at at the southern part of the city.

By bus
There is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Trans Palangkaraya. As of 2019, the bus served 5 routes and consist of 26 bus stops. However, bus schedules are infrequent.

By ride-hailing service
Ride-hailing taxi services are provided by Gojek and Grab and provides an easy way to get around the city. Cars and ojek (motorcycle taxis) can be ordered via their respective apps.

By angkot
Angkot (share taxis) used to be common before the arrival of ride-hailing services. As of 2020, 80% of angkot operators have stopped operating because of the competition.

Do

 * See traditional Dayak dancing.
 * Traditional celebrate Dayak culture such as "Upacara Batiwah".
 * Fishing in some kolam pancing (fishing pond)
 * Climbing Tangkiling Hill

Eat
Some of the local dishes include Wadi (Fermented fish), Juhu Baasem, Juhu Singkah, and Kandas Sarai.

Go next

 * Banjarmasin - the river city
 * Pontianak - the capital of West Kalimantan

title: Palangka Raya


text:
Palani

Palani is a town in Tamil Nadu. The Palani Murugan Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, sits on a hill overlooking the town. The temple is visited by more than 7 million pilgrims each year. As of 2011, the town had a population of 70,000.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Coimbatore which has regular flights from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Sharjah, Colombo and Singapore. Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Scoot, Air Arabia and SriLankan Airways operate flights out of Coimbatore Airport.

Palani is approximately 100 km from Coimbatore. Taxis, buses and trains link Coimbatore to Palani.

By train
Broad-gauge trains connect Palani to Pollachi on one side (en route from Coimbatore or Kerala) and Madurai (to elsewhere in Tamil Nadu). Passenger trains now run and a daily express train links Chennai. The Murugan Temple is about 2 km from the railway station and can be reached by autorickshaw or bus.

By bus
The state transport corporation and many private bus operators ply from Palani to Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tuticorin, Palakkad and Kochin. KSRTC Bus runs to Cherthala, Changanassery and Kottarakkara.

Get around
Getting around Palani is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and taxis available in plenty.

It is not advised to pick the auto rickshaws, as they are prone to overcharging the commuters, especially if they are from out of town. It is best to ask your hotel to arrange for transportation or inquire about the estimated fare between the destinations.

See
There are lot of places to see in and around Palani.

Do

 * Trekking to Kodaikannal, Kuthiraiyar Dam Falls, Thakkan thotam
 * Site seeing in Kodaikannal
 * Visit temples in and around Palani

Buy
ATMs from most nationalised nanks are available within the town.

You can buy panchamirtham, vibhuti, medals of Muruga, toys, handicrafts, pictures of the Lord, publications of the Devasthânam. You can bargain for the prices.

Industries: textile mills, manufacture of panchamirtham, production of vibhuti (sacred ash), making of steel furniture at Govt. pressed metal factory, manufacture of fruit juices and of stone grinders.

Learn
Schools: Palani has a number of Tamil and English Medium schools. Arulmigu Palaniandavar Matriculation School(APMS) is one of the oldest English medium schools in Palani.

Colleges: Palani has two arts colleges and one Engineering college in the town. The Arts colleges are run by the Devasthanam  (Palani Hill Temple Board).

Polytechnic: Devasthanam (Palani Hill Temple Board) also runs a polytechnic (Arulmigu Palaniandavar Polytechnic).

Eat
A lot of South Indian restaurants (Vegetarian and Non-Veg) are available in Palani town. Few restaurants serve Chinese and North Indian foods too.

Palani is famous for its Panchamirtam, which is a jam-like preserve made of five fruits. It’s one of the unique sweets which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Drink
All soft drinks are available in almost all small shops near Temple and in the town. Fresh fruit juices are also available in the fruit shops around the temple and near bus stand. Tender coconut is available in plenty as Palani/Pollachi areas have coconut plantations.

Sleep
The temple provides ample accommodation to its visitors so you can always book a place to sleep. It also provides air-conditioned rooms to non-air-conditioned beds.

Stay safe
Be skeptical about what the horse drivers tell you. They may defraud you.

Cope
Hospitals: - Palani has lot of hospitals which operate for 24 hours including the Government hospitals.

Important phone numbers:
 * Police Control Tower - 100
 * Fire Station - 101

Go next

 * Kodaikanal
 * Munnar to palani
 * Topslip
 * Ooty
 * Madurai

title: Palani


text:
Palatka

Palatka is a town of 20,000 people (2020) on the banks of St. Johns River in North Central Florida. One of the earliest cities to develop in the state, the city is home to charming historic neighborhoods and notable state landmarks. The area also offers numerous outdoor activities. These range from skydiving and kayaking to boating and golfing. Home to many festivals throughout the year, one event in particular pays homage to the city's most popular flower, the azalea. The flower can be viewed prominently throughout the city in early March, coinciding with riverfront festivities. The unique mixture of southern hospitality and Florida culture make Palatka a "must experience" destination for the roaming traveler.

Climate
Palatka has a humid subtropical climate, with mild weather during winters and hot weather during summers. High temperatures average 64 to 91 °F (18-33 °C) throughout the year. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the Palatka area. High temperatures can reach mid to high 90s with heat index ranges of 105-115 °F. It is common for daily thunderstorms to erupt during a standard summer afternoon. These are caused by the heating of the land and water, combined with extremely high humidity.

During winter, the area can experience hard freezes during the night. Such cold weather is usually short lived, as the city averages only 15 nights below freezing. Even rarer in Palatka than freezing temperatures is snow. When snow does fall, it usually melts before touching the ground, or upon making contact with the ground.

Palatka has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most other east coast cities. Palatka has experienced hurricane or near-hurricane conditions more than a dozen times due to storms passing through the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, or passing to the north or south in the Atlantic and brushing the area. Rainfall averages around 50 inches a year, with the wettest months being June through September.

Airports

 * Jacksonville International Airport is the closest major international airport in the region. It is about 69 miles north of Palatka
 * Palatka Municipal Airport, also known as Lt. Kay Larkin Field, is public-use general aviation airport just west of the city.

By train
Amtrak serves Palatka wth its Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains running between New York and Miami, with the two trains taking slightly different routes along the way. While the trains are comfortable, they are quite slow and delays are common.

By car
In order to access the full amenities, services, and recreational areas offered by the region, vehicle accommodations are a must.

Car rentals:

Historic Neighborhoods

 * North Historic District is bounded by the St. Johns River, Bronson, North 1st, North 5th, and Main Streets. It contains 76 historic buildings, including the Bronson-Mulholland House and St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
 * South Historic District is bounded by the St. Johns River, Oak, South 9th, and Morris Streets. It contains 243 historic buildings.

Buy
Downtown and Historic Lemon Street offer a variety of specialty shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Accentuated by parks and public spaces this pedestrian friendly area is a perfect place to spend an afternoon.

State Road 19 ("FL-19 commercial corridor") is the big box retail corridor. Here you will find Publix, Winn Dixie, and Wal-mart. The Palatka Mall and movie theater are also in this area.

Go next

 * Florida Trail is a National Scenic Trail more than 1,500 miles across the state of Florida. The Palatka area portion of the trail is renowned for its wetland and forest environments.
 * Etoniah Creek State Forest The forest is home to a variety of wildlife and is part of a wildlife corridor that offers the black bear a vast roaming area, a necessity for their existence. Other types of wildlife which are commonly found on the forest include: white-tailed deer, bobcat, fox squirrel, wild turkey, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and great horned owl
 * Welaka State Forest is located along the east bank of the beautiful and historic St. Johns River. The Division of Forestry maintains the integrity of the natural systems while allowing limited outdoor recreation use and environmental education, especially in the areas of forestry, botany, soils and wildlife ecology. In 1935, under the Federal Resettlement Administration, the United States government started the Welaka Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Project. The Welaka property was later transferred to the University of Florida as a Florida Conservation Reserve for the study of forestry and outdoor wildlife, projects started in the 1940s are still being managed today. Welaka State Forest was acquired for management by the Florida Division of Forestry in 1992 through a transfer of lease from the University of Florida.
 * Rice Creek Conservation Area Rice Creek Swamp covers approximately 70 percent of the property. Together with Palmetto Branch, Oldtown Branch and Hickory Branch — which are all just west of the conservation area — the swamp forms the headwaters of Rice Creek, a large tributary of the St. Johns River. The area was an indigo and rice plantation during the 18th century, and most of the uplands were managed as commercial pine plantations before District ownership. The site has a variety of natural communities, including floodplain swamp, flatwoods, dome swamp, floodplain forest and upland mixed forest. The area is also a key parcel for connecting Etoniah State Forest to the Cross Florida Greenway.
 * Ocala National Forest is in North Central Florida between the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Encompassing approximately 383,000 acres, it is the southernmost forest in the continental United States and protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest. Despite its high, dry, central scrub ridges, the Ocala National Forest is rich in water resources with more than 600 lakes, rivers, and springs

title: Palatka


text:
Palau

Palau (Belau) is a group of more than 300 tropical islands in the Micronesia area of the Pacific Ocean, to the southeast of the Philippines.

Understand
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands chose independence in 1978, instead of joining the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. Palau became independent on October 1, 1994.

It is illegal to sell/buy or use sunscreen or skin care products that contain chemicals that damage the reef. Details can be found on the ICRI web page.

History
Early Palauans may have come from Polynesia and Asia. Depending on the origin of a family, Palauans may represent many parts of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. However, they are not traditionally considered to be Micronesian. For thousands of years, Palauans have had a well established matrilineal society, believed to have descended from Javanese precedents.

Palau had limited relations before the 18th century, mainly with Yap and Java. Had it not been for shipwrecked islanders who took refuge in the Philippines, Europeans likely would not have found Palau until much later. Englishman Captain Henry Wilson was shipwrecked off the island of Ulong in 1783 and it was Wilson who gave the archipelago the name "Pelew Islands".

In the late 19th century, possession of the islands was claimed by Britain, Spain, and Germany. In 1885, the matter was brought to Pope Leo XIII for a decision. The Pope recognized the Spanish claim, but granted economic concessions to Britain and Germany. Palau then became part of the Spanish East Indies, along with the Northern Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands. They were all administered from the Philippines. Spain sold the Palau archipelago to Germany in 1899 after which it was administered from German New Guinea, and a period of economic development began. German engineers began exploiting the islands' deposits of bauxite and phosphate, and a rich harvest in copra was made. World War I intervened and the German period lasted only 15 years after which the League of Nations awarded Palau to Japan as a South Seas Mandate. The Japanese presence made Palau a major target for the Allied forces in World War II, and there were several major battles in the area.

Climate
Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82 °F (28 °C). Rainfall can occur throughout the year, averaging a total of 150 inches (3,800 mm). The average humidity over the course of the year is 82%, and although rain falls more frequently between July and October, there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon zone.

Culture
Palau inherits its traditional practices and a modern cultural life in its closeness to nature. There is a tradition of storyboards (itabori), which is storytelling recorded in old Palauan legends and skill of woodcarvings.

Tourist information

 * Palau Tourism website

Talk
English and Palauan are the official languages, although some islands also give official status to their own languages. The state of Angaur is actually the only place in the world where Japanese is an official language, as Japan has no official language.

Cities

 * - new capital (pop. 381) This is on the island of Babeldaob and is a pleasant drive from Koror along the new road constructed by Daewoo. Head out over the bridge and the road to Melekeok is clearly signposted.
 * - the largest city and former capital. Koror contains Palau's only real concentration of shops, restaurants, and hotels. Many of the largest dive operators are also based here.

Other destinations
The southwestern islands of Palau are worth a visit if you have your own marine transport such as an ocean-going yacht. There are Sonsorol, Fana, Meriil, Hatohobei and Helen Reef, a conservation area. However be sure to take mosquito repellent if you visit Meriil as its local name is Dancing Island. Go there and you will find out why! If you intend to visit any of these islands it is a wise idea to make the acquaintance of the governors at their offices in Koror. If you are lucky you just might be able to take a trip on the island supply vessel, the Atoll Way. Sleeping is on a hard wooden platform along with the other souls who are either returning to their home islands or maybe the doctor from Peleliu Island Hospital who is making a routine visit to check up on the health of the islanders.

Visa requirements
Visas are not required by citizens of any Schengen country (90 days), Taiwan (90 days), the United States (a year), Israel (90 days), the Marshall Islands (a year) and the Federated States of Micronesia (a year). Nearly all other visitors can obtain a 30 day visa on arrival, except for citizens of Bangladesh and Myanmar who must obtain a visa in advance.

By plane
The only realistic choice. There is only one airport, Airai, or officially Roman Tmetuchl International Airport, on Babeldaob. As of 2022, the only scheduled international flights are from Manila and Guam, both on United, or Taipei, on China Airlines. Alii Palau Airlines started regular flights from Singapore to Palau from 23 November 2023.

By boat
Possible but only recommended for experienced mariners. Cruise ships occasionally visit Palau.

Get around
Taxi and rented car. Lots of local taxis. If you rent a car, be prepared to drive slowly on some bumpy roads. Both left and right hand drive cars are present in Palau, which can cause some confusion. If you drive south, to Ice Box Park, the facility behind it is a sewage treatment plant. Any other diving will be from a boat, after an hour or more ride and cost around US$150 for a two-tank dive. There are no dive spots or beaches on the main island — Koror. The road north is paved and is very nice... once you get past the airport.

See
Most visitor attractions are found on and around The Rock Islands or Chelbachebover. These 250 rock islands — many tiny, uninhabited places — offer some enchanting views and are a World Heritage site. Popular dives include Blue Corner, Blue hole and the German Channel.

Head to Jellyfish Lake for the extraordinary experience of snorkeling between the countless and unique stingless jellyfish. The isolated location and lack of predators have led the jellyfish to develop this significant difference from the ones in the nearby lagoon. Take a guided tour along ancient stone monoliths and terraces while your guide tells you all about the legends that surround them. With just over 21,000 inhabitants, even the capital might feel like a village, but there's a handful of interesting sights and a few museums showcasing traditional Palau culture and the country's turbulent war time history. Again though, it's the sheer beauty both above and under water that makes visitors rave about this small island nation.

Palau is the site of the world's first shark sanctuary across 629,000 kilometers in exclusive economic zone and breeds a variety with 135 species of endangered sharks.

Do

Palau is most famous for scuba diving. One of the most famous dive sites, Blue Corner, with constant sharks and a high current — is less than 1 hour's boat ride from most resorts. There are many local dive shops and live-aboards that offer tours in Palau. There are also tours to World War II battle fields on Palau.

The Blue Corner, German Channel, Ulong Channel and Blue Holes are all amazing dive sites. You can dive the same site again and again and have completely different experiences each time.

Palau is also famous for its jellyfish lakes. These lakes contain jellyfish which have evolved away their stingers in the absence of predators. There are many tours which will go to the jellyfish lake to snorkel. SCUBA diving is not permitted, nor is necessary, in the jellyfish lake. Palau Jellyfish Lake is included in the category of natural phenomena and scientific mysteries.

Money
Palau uses the U.S. dollar as its currency ("$", ISO currency code: USD). It is divided into 100 cents.

Costs
As you might expect from a remote island where tourism is the main industry, prices are comparatively high, and even a low-end daily budget would be around $100/day. An increase in visitor numbers in 2015-16 (including many Chinese package tours) has caused overcrowding; in 2017, President Tommy Remengesau proposed policy intended to reposition Palau as a destination of primarily "five-star hotels" (so fewer visitors, at a higher cost) to limit the negative environmental and social impact.

Handicrafts
Palauan storyboards are traditional wood carvings depicting Palauan myths and legends.

Eat
Palau has large communities from Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, Japan and the USA and the local stores have evolved to supply their needs. So Koror offers an amazing range of foodstuffs in its stores, at a price of course. Japanese-inspired Bento lunch boxes are very popular. Koror also has the largest concentration of restaurants.

Drink

Many licensed establishments in Palau — from quiet little bars to Japanese-style karaoke bars complete with bar girls. For a decent affordable drink, try Sam's Dive Shop or High Tide. Alcohol is readily available at most stores. Public drinking is not allowed, and the local police are more than happy to inconvenience you if you are caught.

Red Rooster Beer. Despite its size Palau has a small brewery, to be found next to the West Plaza by the Sea hotel (see below). It offers Amber and Stout and three other beers. Abai Ice in Koror is a small hut that offers fresh fruit smoothies — highly recommended.

Budget
Palau offers a number of guest house style boutique accommodations. Some are close to or within Koror, some are not. These are available for international bookings via dive shops that offer holiday packages (such as Sam's Tours). Prices range from US$50 a night upward.

Mid-range
There are also a number of nice basic hotels available in Palau.

Splurge
There are lots of reasonably high end resorts on Palau, most catering for scuba divers.

Stay safe
Palau is quite a safe country to visit. Walking in downtown Koror at night, even past midnight is quite safe. But as with any place in the world today, common sense prevails. Pedestrians should be careful, as sidewalks are limited even in downtown Koror. Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) still exist in Palau's mangroves and in the beautiful Rock Islands and can potentially be found anywhere on the island. Despite their fearsome and, in some areas, very justified reputation, here they rarely grow to the immense size that they do in Australia and New Guinea. There was only one fatal attack by a crocodile in Palau within recorded history and that occurred in 1965. The biggest crocodile in Palau's history was 15 feet in length- large, but this is an average size for saltwater crocodiles in most other countries. The rarity of attacks probably stems from the fact that there are no more than 150 adult individuals on the island. Snorkeling and scuba diving are very popular in Palau. A 2012 attack on a tourist was the first since the 1960s. According to one survey, it appears crocodiles are quite unjustly hated by the locals, in harsh contrast to the worship they are given by the indigenous peoples of Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The reasons for this are unclear.

Bull Sharks are common in the coastal waters and estuaries, so caution must always be taken while scuba diving or snorkeling.

Stay healthy
According to the CDC, tap water in Palau is generally safe to drink. Drinking from private wells is not recommended.

Respect
Palauans have been known throughout history for their hospitality. Many Palauans are very understanding, realize cultural differences, and easily give respect for foreign visitors. Be sure, however, to always pay respect to the local culture. As with any other ethnic group, rude remarks or any form of prejudice against the local culture is not taken kindly. Palauans can be just as angry and rude as they are kind. As long as you do not disrespect the culture, violate historic areas, pollute, or harm the ocean in any way, you will find the local atmosphere very laid back and easy going.

Palau is a matrilineal society with very strict roles for men and women. Ideas such as feminism are not standard to the Palauan population, and an overly zealous attempt at instilling such ideas is taken as annoying, ignorant, and obnoxious. Most Palauans, however, gladly engage in such debates and find intellectual conversations interesting. Locals do not expect foreigners to understand the national identity and local culture, so a quick apology for any wrongdoing is more than enough to satisfy a little friction.

Dress respectfully. The Palau Visitors Authority requests that travelers do not wear swimming suits or short shorts/skirts in towns or villages.

title: Palau


text:
Palawan

Palawan is the westernmost province of the Philippines, with probably the most pristine natural environment away from its settlements. It is regularly voted among the most beautiful islands on Earth.

Understand
The island of Palawan stretches from close to Mindoro in the northeast almost to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea to the northwest and Sulu Sea to the southeast.

Metropolitan Filipinos tend to regard Palawan as their final, unspoilt frontier, but even here venal politicians conspire to degrade conservation lands and there are plans for virgin forest to be logged out so lucrative oil palms can be planted. Get here while the beaches are still relatively deserted and unspoiled; resorts are still relatively few and far between in most of Palawan.

The indigenous flora and fauna of Palawan are somewhat different from the rest of the country. Biologists draw the Wallace-Huxley line to classify ecological regions in the area; Palawan is west of the line, grouped with Borneo, while most of the Philippines is east of the line.

The Samal people, also known as Bajau, Badjao or several other spellings, and as Sea Gypsies, live on Palawan, as well as the Sulu Islands, mainland Mindanao and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. They are renowned for their skill at diving for pearls; some of them get down more than 30 m (100 feet) without breathing equipment.

The Magellan expedition visited Palawan in the 1520s, and hired pilots there to help them navigate the rest of their journey to the Spice Islands.

The Philippine government considers Palawan part of the Mimaropa group of provinces, hence falling under Luzon at the next level of the hierarchy. An executive order to reclassify it as part of the Western Visayas region was issued in 2005, but has not been implemented as of 2015.

For Wikivoyage purposes, we treat Palawan as a separate fourth region of the country, the other three being Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Regions
Palawan Island is much the largest part of the province both in land area and in population, but a number of other islands are also included in this province:
 * the, northeast of Palawan Island
 * the, to the east in the Sulu Sea
 * , south of the Cuyos
 * , to the west in the contested group
 * , off the south tip of Palawan Island, near the maritime border with Sabah in Malaysia

All of these are actually island groups; even the ones named for a single main island include several smaller islands as well.

Cities
On Palawan Island: In the Calamian Islands:
 * - provincial capital
 * - where "Tabon man" lived a long time ago. Some refer to Tabon Cave as the cradle of Philippine civilization.
 * - limestone cliffs, lagoons, beautiful beaches
 * - a truly laid-back coastal getaway with a great beach
 * - town with the long Saint Paul underground river in the National Park
 * Mostly fishing and farming, but some beautiful scenery
 * - town on the northwest edge of Palawan with the 14km cream-coloured "long beach". With the near completion of an airport in the city, some are saying the beach could rival Boracay.
 * - town on the northwest edge of Palawan with the 14km cream-coloured "long beach". With the near completion of an airport in the city, some are saying the beach could rival Boracay.
 * - town on the northwest edge of Palawan with the 14km cream-coloured "long beach". With the near completion of an airport in the city, some are saying the beach could rival Boracay.
 * - wreck diving
 * - wreck diving
 * - wreck diving

Other destinations

 * , a UNESCO World Heritage Site with exceedingly fine diving, usually reached by live-aboard dive boats operating out of Puerto Princesa
 * - a rural university town
 * - game preserve and wildlife sanctuary
 * - The Rice Granary of Palawan.
 * Palawan Butterfly Garden - located south of Puerto Princesa

Talk
Most people in Palawan usually speak Tagalog, however, Palawan has some indigenous languages, such as Cuyonon (one of the Visayan languages) in Cuyo Islands, and Palawan Batak (distantly related to the Batak languages of Sumatra, Indonesia) in Palawan proper. Palawanos, however, will readily speak in Tagalog even if their native language is one of those. Most Palawanos are Tagalog-speaking due to migration from Southern Luzon.

Signage is normally in English, as anywhere in the Philippines, with some being or including Tagalog, but there may also be some signs with translations to Chinese (Traditional) or Korean to accommodate the island's many Taiwanese and Korean visitors.

Get in

 * is the main gateway to Palawan, major airlines serve international and domestic flights; Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific have flights to and from Manila, Cebu, and Clark. Cebu pacific also has flights to Iloilo. Tiger Air Taiwan fly to Taipei, Eastar Jet fly to Seoul.

When departing from this airport, there is a terminal fee within the ticket price of for domestic destinations and  for international destinations.

 * El Nido Airport Airswift has flights to/from Manila and Cebu. book via their website
 * Air Juan has flights to/from Puerto Princesa airport to Iloilo via Cuyo . and Puerto Princesa to Coron via San Vicente.

A new airport has been "near completion" in San Vicente since 2012, but don't hold your breath since, like many projects in the Philippines, opening dates are often wildly optimistic. Even when it does open, the surrounding settlement provides very little to attract visitors to bounce over the rutted goat tracks - with the exception of the 14-km long strip of white sand that made resort developers salivate.

Ferries run from Manila or San Jose to Coron. 2Go Travel and Atienza Shipping Line operates the Manila-Coron route; Montenegro Shipping Lines and Bunso Transport sail from San Jose.

Get around
Cheapest option while getting around is the local jeepney for short distances and buses for long distances. Tricycles are also available within towns. Getting from one island to another is possible; daily boat trips are available. It is also possible to rent a car or van.

See

 * Tabon Caves in Quezon. The Caves were the discovery site of the skull cap remains of the Tabon Man estimated to be 22,000 years old. Explore its 138 hectares of rugged cliffs and deep slopes and breathtaking sea view.

Eat

 * Kalui in 369 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa is a popular Filipino restaurant that serves varieties of seafoods

Buy
Pearl diving is common throughout the region and pearl or shell-based handicrafts widely sold. Several of the world's largest pearls, including both the current and the previous record holder, have been found around Puerto Princesa.

Go next

 * Mindoro
 * Panay

title: Palawan


text:
Paldiski

Paldiski is a port town (population: 3,500 in 2021) on the shore of Baltic Sea, in Harjumaa county in northwestern Estonia. Here the drab Soviet past meets the sea and the cliffs with wind power plants.

Understand
Paldiski is on the Pakri peninsula stretching out into the Baltic Sea. As such the port rarely freezes over during winter (unlike Tallinn for instance). The Swedes were the first to discover this and established the settlement of Rågervik in the 14th century. After the Great Northern War in the early 18th century, present-day Estonia became Russian, and Peter the Great had a fortress built here. The settlement first functioned as a penal colony, though over the decades the port was developed and in 1762 the settlement was renamed Baltiiskiy Port (Балтийский Порт), whereas also the German name Baltischport was used as Baltic Germans held a high position in the Baltic commercial life, and the Estonians called the town Paldiski.

In 1870 the railway from St. Petersburg along the north Estonian coast reached Paldiski, and the railway also served as an "axis of development" for the cities along it. In addition to commerce and industry, the military also had strong position in the town during Russian Imperial and Soviet rule. Between the world wars Estonia was an independent country, and the town's name was established as Paldiski. Then the country fell into Soviet hands, Paldiski became a military outpost towards the western bloc and as such a closed city – off-limits to foreigners, non-resident Soviet citizens, even non-resident Estonians themselves because of its military importance. By the 1960s it had grown in size considerably and was the largest submarine base in the Soviet Union. In 1994, three years after the fall of the USSR, it became a normal town with the nuclear reactors used for training crews for nuclear submarines buried in concrete sarcophaguses.

However it meant a decline of the town as its main activity had been dissolved. Today the main activity is the civilian freight, oil, and to some extent passenger port, and a kind of decaying Soviet (and to some extent Imperial Russian) open air museum, open to everyone. It's worth a visit if you're interested in the grey world of the Soviet Union: Paldiski and the Pakri peninsula are covered with abandoned bunkers, piles of unidentifiable junk and various military debris. Moreover, like many former Soviet cities that housed major functions, most inhabitants are Russian-speaking, "left behind" when the USSR disappeared, which gives the town a different feel from surrounding Estonia. Indeed the scenes taking place in a location introduced to the audience as “somewhere in the former Soviet Union” in the film Lilya 4-Ever were shot in Paldiski.

Also the natural surroundings are interesting; the cliffs to the sea, the lighthouses outside town, and the wind farms of which there are probably more than anywhere else in the country.

Get in
Best to take the train one way and the bus the other way to enjoy both sides of the ride. Bus and train schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia.

By train
Trains run from Tallinn Balti Jaam, departures about every 1.5 hours. The trip takes just over an hour and it costs €3.15.

By bus
Buses - the Tallinn region bus line 145 - depart almost hourly during daytime, though not from the bus station. The depart from Tallinn Balti Jaam, going clockwise around the old town via Viru Hotel and Vabaduse väljak before heading west to the Zoo, Rocca al Mare shopping mall and Paldiski highway. The trip takes about 1 hr 10 min and it costs €3.

The to get in and out is along Sadama street in the centre (they also have a timetable posted there), the one on Kivi is quite central also. But there are other stops between and including the railway station.

By car
Paldiski is a 50 km drive from Tallinn along highway 8. From the southwest, you can get in from Haapsalu along highways 9 a short bit, 17 to Padise and 174 to Paldiski; that is a 70 km drive.

By boat
DFDS operates daily freight ferries from Kapellskär, Sweden that also carry passengers (with cars).

Get around
There's no public transport but as a small town, Paldiski can be explored on foot. Rae, a continuation of the highway from Tallinn, is the main street, and the town stretches about two blocks east and west of this street where its delimited by the port or forest. If you wish to access the sea, you can do this north of the city where it's not blocked off by the port functions. For the lighthouse, 5 km north, try taking a taxi, hitch or walk anyway.

See
Most of Paldiski dates to Soviet times or later; don't expect a picturesque old town like for instance in Haapsalu. Poorly maintained two- and five-floor apartment buildings, and newer buildings in between make up the bulk of the town. Virtually all of the military buildings, including the large submarine training center, have been demolished also. They have given place to the port, or just been turned into something between meadows and lawns.

In town

Pakri

The Pakri peninsula, whose southwestern shore Paldiski occupies, has a rocky coast. The best place for seeing the waves crashing into the rocks is the tip of the peninsula where the Pakri lighthouse is. There are actually two lighthouses. The old one was built in 1722 on orders by Peter the Great, nowadays falling apart and dangerously located at the cliff. Across the road is the new lighthouse, built in 1889.

Near the lighthouse(s) there's also a staircase leading down to the sea. Overall the peninsula is a good place for just wandering around the shore and watching the Baltic Sea. Do not go too close to the edge as the ground is unstable (and forget about any fences).

A couple of kilometers west of Paldiski are the (Pakri saared), that are a nature reserve. The islands were inhabited by Swedes from 1345 onwards, who were growing rye there, wherefore the island were named Rågöarna - the Rye Islands. They were evicted in WWII by the Soviet military, who turned the islands into a base and later a bombing range. After restoration of independence, the islands were cleared of ordnance and turned into a nature reserve. In addition to nature, you can see the remains of abandoned Swedish villages including a church bell tower and Soviet military buildings.

The reserve authorities operate tour boats that leave from each morning in the summer at 10:00, returning in the afternoon - these trips take place only if there are enough passengers. Return tickets cost €33 and trips need to be booked 36 hours before departure.

Klooga

is a village along the railway, 10 km east of Paldiski. After WWII, when the peninsula with surroundings was militarized, the civilian population was evicted. Nowadays its a normal village, but there are still some abandoned buildings built by the Soviets.

North of the village, the Nazis operated a concentration camp during the German occupation in World War II, where more than two thousand Jews were murdered. Of the camp, a remains. During the same time, Ingrian Finns escaping the Soviet Union were placed in a camp in the nearby village of Põllküla, and many died due to the poor conditions there; of this camp too a remains.

Do
If you have a good map that has many foot paths (like OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use), you can walk around the port and continue north along the cliffs towards the lighthouse.

Buy

In addition the town has a few kiosks and second hand stores.

Eat and drink

Other than these, self-catering is also possible (see Buy above). The closest thing to bars and nightlife is the tavern, which is rather quiet in the evenings too.

Sleep

Connect

All mobile operators (Elisa, Tele2 and Telia) have 4G coverage in and around Paldiski.

Go next

 * Laulasmaa – 20 km east to the east from Paldiski towards Tallinn there is this small coastal village.
 * Nõva – 20 km towards Haapsalu is this beautiful coastal village with untouched pine forests and a clean beach.

title: Paldiski


text:
Palekastro

Palekastro is a large town in Crete.

Get in
The village of Palekastro is situated in the most eastern corner of the island of Crete, Greece. This unsophisticated, rural, Cretan village of 1300 inhabitants, has been relatively unaffected by the inroads of tourism despite its superb nearby beaches, where you can enjoy water sports and swimming.

The traditional factor is blended in harmony with the modern, offering to the visitor the convenience of the present time, as well as the jauntiness of the past.

See
The village is valued for the archaeologists, because of its rich archaeological sites. There is a folklore museum, too.

Eat
There are a lot of taverns and restaurants, where traditional meals are served. You can also find fresh fish in some of them. Don't miss it! You can enjoy your coffee or your ice-cream in one of the cafes in the square.

Drink
For the lovers of night life, there are a couple of bars and one disco.

Sleep
As Palekastro is a touristic place, because of the clean, isolated beaches and the natural sightseeing there is a constant increase of new built rooms and apartments for tourists. There are a lot of small pensions and apartments in the village, but there are also some of them near the seaside. You can also find accommodation in Agathias, a small settlement, 1 km far from Palekastro and just 800m from Hiona Beach. There are no luxurious hotels, but for those looking for luxury, there are some expensive apartments in Kouremenos Beach.

title: Palekastro


text:
Palekh

Palekh is a small town in Ivanovo Oblast. A very artistic town, Palekh is the origin of the prominent 19th-century Palekh school of icon and mural painting, exhibited prominently at the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross. In the 20th century the town distinguished itself by the innovation of distinctive lacquer painted miniatures, famous across Russia.

Understand
Palekh is a small village, and everything interesting is concentrated in it on the central streets of Lenin and Bazhanov or within a radius of a couple of hundred meters from them. There is no public transport. An hour is enough for an external inspection of Palekh, although it would be a mistake not to look at the museums, so try to come here during the day and expect 3-4 hours.

By train
The nearest railway station is in Shuya, where the Lastochka stops four times a day, traveling from Moscow to Ivanovo. From Moscow to Shuya it takes a little over 3 hours, and then another half hour by bus. Buses run on average every half hour. The bus station is located in Shuya next to the station. The same route can be made through Ivanovo, but the railway and bus stations there are very far from each other, and there are not much more trains than in Shuya.

By bus
Ivanovo buses stop in Palekh and go to regional centers in the southeast of the region: Yuzha, Pestyaki, Puchezh, Verkhniy Landeh, and Nizhny Novgorod. Movement interval: 1-2 times per hour, travel time is no more than one and a half hours; all these buses make an intermediate stop in Shuya. Direct buses from Moscow run a couple of times a day (7 hours).

By car
The P152 highway passes through Palekh, connecting Ivanovo (65 km) and Nizhny Novgorod (180 km). The road from Palekh to the south is essentially a dead end and will be useful only to those who go to see Kholui or Yuzha.

See

 * The ordinary buildings of Palekh are also interesting in their own way. Along Lenin and Bakanova streets there are pre-revolutionary stone houses, mostly strong and two-story, and then there are wooden houses decorated with carvings, usually modern, but no less pretty. By the standards of the Ivanovo region, there is absolutely nothing special here; fortunately, carved houses are found in every second village, and even registers of cultural heritage sparingly note the “historical center of Palekh” without detailing its individual buildings, although for those who came from Vladimir or Nizhny Novgorod, Palekh will be a good introduction to what you will see next. Don't forget about the museums too!

Buy

 * Palekh miniatures — In the 20th century the town distinguished itself by the innovation of distinctive lacquer painted miniatures, famous across Russia.

title: Palekh