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Vanino

Vanino (Russian: Ва́нино, VAH-nee-nuh) is a town in the Russian Far East, and an important Pacific port, with ferry connections to and from Sakhalin. The city has a population of 18,900 people. It is also the easternmost city on the Russian railway network, although the Baikal-Amur Mainline has one more stop 10 minutes south of Vanino in Sovetskaya Gavan.

By train
Vanino Station, located on the hills above the port, is on the BAM line (Baikal Amur Mainline), However, the main connections to and from Vanino (trains #943/944) run south on a branch line to the major far eastern cities of Khabarovsk (23 hours) and Vladivostok (40 hours) on the main Trans Siberian line. Railway enthusiasts can travel on the badly serviced, but exotic BAM line by switching trains in Komsomolsk, where there is a daily train (#363э/364э) to Tynda.

By bus

 * Khabarovsk – Minibuses for Khabarovsk connect with the ferry.　While probably cheaper than the train, they are rather crammed, and road conditions are bad.

By ferry

 * Kholmsk, Sakhalin – Daily overnight ferries plow across the Tartar Strait to Kholmsk on Sakhalin Island (18 hours, from ₽600). Tickets are bought at a ticket window inside the railway station. Beware! Issuing the tickets is a slow and tedious bureaucratic procedure, and the queues are long and loud – be prepared for long waits. People have reported being stuck here for half or sometimes even full days. One option is to have a travel agent (e.g. in Khabarovsk) prebook your tickets, which allows you to bypass the queue. Once all tickets have been issued, a bus shuttles passengers to the ferry from the parking lot north of the train platform.
 * Otaru, Japan – According to various sources, the monthly freight service between Vanino and Otaru on Hokkaido, Japan via Kholmsk takes on passengers – but very little specific information is available. It is probably not worth the hassle, since there is a regular passenger service one-to-two times a week during the summer between Korsakov on Sakhalin and Wakkanai. To get more information contact SASCO tel.: +7 (42433) 66109 or consult their website,.

Get around

 * Port – A bus shuttles passengers between the station and the ferry through the off limits port area. The bus departs from the parking lot north of the train platform, but there is no fixed timetable; it seems to leave whenever the queue for ferry tickets has been emptied. Tickets are bought along with your ferry tickets, and are mandatory.

See and do
Vanino is a quite pleasant town by regional standards, with hills and good views of the harbour. However, other than a couple of lighthouses, there is little to offer the casual tourist. One option is to catch a Marshrutka bound for Sovetskaya Gavan for some good views over the jagged coast.

Buy

 * Supermarket – There is a Russian style supermarket available close to the station, pass the tracks on the pedestrian bridge and it will be on your left when you walk off the bridge.

Eat and drink
There are a few cafes scattered around the station with the usual variety of station foods, along with a restaurant next to the supermarket mentioned above.

Sleep
Another option, if the situation is desperate, is to catch a Marshrutka and overnight in Sovetskaya Gavan, 30 minutes away, where there is a newly renovated hotel in the city center.

Go next

 * Sakhalin, and more specifically Kholmsk, would seem the most obvious choice.

title: Vanino


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Vannes

Vannes (Breton: Gwened) is the fifth-largest city in Brittany in France.

By train
The high-speed TGV from Paris goes to Rennes. Switch to the regular-speed SNCF train to Vannes. NOTE: the main train direction is not marked Vannes. You can also take the TGV from Paris to Quimper which makes a stop in Vannes without switch.

By car
Vannes can be reached directly from Nantes or Brest by taking the highway N165. From Rennes, take the N24 and switch at Ploërmel to the N166. These roads are free.

By bus
Local buses are operated by Kicéo. A Pass Journée is €4.20 (January 2019) and allows for unlimited rides across their bus network.

By bicycle
A small bike hire scheme, Vélocéo, enables you to hire bikes from a few points across Vannes, using a smartphone app.

On foot
Vannes is best explored on foot.

See
The Medieval Village

The medieval village has several pedestrian and vehicle entrances. The port-side entrance to the rempart surrounded old town is just next to the port. Follow signs on the roads to le port, there is ample parking. Outside the walls of the village, there are several cafes on the port-side. Just inside the walls, you will find many boutiques and Creperies.

The Eglise in the old village at the top of the hill. The square nearby is often graced by musicians in the summer, while the cobblestone streets are used for costumed parades calling back centuries ago. Bastille Day in Vannes is a spectacle with horse-drawn carriages, costumes for men, women and children of all distinctions, and a small zoo of live animals...

The Port

The Castle

The Parks

Do
Take a boat to one of the Islands. Though Vannes is a lovely town, if you have any time to spare, you should check out the timetables for sailings to one of the islands in the Gulf of Morbihan.

Buy
The Fayencerie in Vannes (located in the medieval town, near the eglise) has beautiful pottery for sale. Though not exactly local to Vannes-proper, the pottery is very popular with locals and tourists alike.

The boutiques of the medieval town are best for prime-time shopping: find clothing, nautical-themed gifts, lingerie, home and bath goods, jewelry, and many other gifts.

The larger stores like Carrefour and Leroy Merlin are off the main highway, all centralized. There are many good independent stores mixed into the mass development.

Eat
Galettes are a must in Vannes: there are so many varieties, everyone is safe (carnivors, pescetarians, and vegetarians alike). Seafood is fresh and oysters are readily available. Les pizzas are also found. For dessert, similar to the galette (made with buckwheat), crepes (made with plain wheat) are a must.

If you visit the Golfe du Morbihan, there are many local restaurant gems: serving les menus gastronomique. The spa hotels of the Morbihan or les Thalassotherapies generally serve decadent meals. Every village in the Vannes area has a local favorite, not to be missed.

Drink

 * Cidre
 * Wines of the Loire

Sleep
Known as a vacation spot for French people, the Golfe du Morbihan is full of rental properties and spa hotels.

Also, with Vannes as the closest train station for the Presqu'Ile, many people rent cars in Vannes and stay near the beaches. Camping cars are popular too.

For hotels in the area, search in Vannes or the Golfe du Morbihan.

Connect
Postal services:

Go next

 * Carnac
 * Golfe du Morbihan
 * Rochefort-en-Terre
 * Quiberon
 * Belle-Ile
 * Ile-aux-Moines
 * The Presqu'ile
 * The Suscinio Castle

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

title: Vannes


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Van Nuys

Van Nuys is a prominent neighborhood in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, a part of the city of Los Angeles in Southern California. Although there are few tourist attractions here, Van Nuys serves as a civic and commercial center for the Valley.

Get in
Van Nuys sits north of U.S. Route 101 and straddles Interstate 405, which runs north–south through the middle of Van Nuys. To the immediate south is Sherman Oaks, while to north are North Hills and Panorama City. Like the rest of the Valley, the major streets are laid out in a grid pattern.

By train

 * Train operators:
 * Routes stopping in Van Nuys:
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.
 * Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles.
 * Metrolink provides commuter rail from Los Angeles via the San Fernando Valley on the Ventura line (weekdays only).

By plane

The nearest airport offering commercial service is Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, due east of Van Nuys. By public transit, you can take the Metrolink or Amtrak directly from the airport, or take a free shuttle to the Metro Rail station in North Hollywood, where you can connect to the Metro Orange Line.

More distant is the Los Angeles International Airport, a major airport served by many international airlines; LAX FlyAway offers a direct shuttle service from the LAX terminals to Van Nuys, stopping at the at 7610 Woodley Ave (at the NE corner of Woodley Ave and Saticoy, next to the Van Nuys Airport), with service every 30 minutes for 24 hours a day. A second FlyAway stop is on the south side of Victory Boulevard just east of Woodley Avenue, near the Woodley station on the Metro Orange Line bus route; FlyAway buses serve this stop hourly from 4:45am to 11pm. FlyAway buses cost $9.75 each way; cash not accepted, credit/debit cards only.

Get around
Public transit is offered by the city-wide Metro service, with bus service on every major street in Van Nuys. A prominent Metro service through Van Nuys is the Orange Line, a busway that runs east–west across the Valley from North Hollywood to Chatsworth. In North Hollywood, the Orange Line connects to the Metro Rail system.

Drink
Van Nuys isn't exactly known for its nightlife, but there are a few local spots that offer a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere as well as live music.

Sleep
Travelers should be wary of staying at any "motel" or "motor inn" in the area. Most of the "motels" cater to the many prostitutes found along Sepulveda Boulevard. There are only a few legitimate hotels in Van Nuys:

title: Van Nuys


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Vanoise

Vanoise is a beautiful mountain area in the French Alps south of Mont Blanc and linked to the Italian area Gran Paradiso in the Valle d'Aosta region. It is well-known because of its large ski-resorts (Trois Vallées, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes/Val d'Isère).

Understand
The massif de la Vanoise has no peak higher than the Grande Casse, with 3855 metres, which is a serious climb.

The massif stretches about 30 km from north to south and 50 km from east to west. It is bounded to the north by the Tarentaise, that is to say the upper valley of Isère and to the south by the Maurienne, that is to say the valley of the Arc. The Vanoise includes the Lauzière and Grand Arc massif to the east, separated by the Madeleine pass (1,993 m) from the Vanoise massif taken in the strict sense.

The Vanoise national park and the ski area of several very large winter sports resorts occupy a large part of the massif and offer significant and diverse tourist attractions.

title: Vanoise


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Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu is the second largest and more northern island in Fiji.

Cities

 * — the most populous town on Vanua Levu. Like much of Fiji, sugar cane farming is the backbone of Labasa's economy.
 * — a swashbuckling throwback to the days of high-seas adventure and tall tales told in rickety taverns

Other destinations

 * —
 * Qaratutu Resort & Spa
 * Qaratutu Resort & Spa

Understand
Vanua Levu was home to 160,000 people in 2022.

The island's main population centres are the towns of Labasa, in the north, and Savusavu, located at the foot of the peninsula. Labasa, with a population of almost 25,000 at the 1996 census, has a large Indian community, and is a major centre of Fiji's sugar industry. Savusavu is smaller, with a population of just under 5000, but is a popular centre for tourists owing to its diving and yachting facilities.

In 2012, the nation of Kiribati began negotiating to buy 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) of the island to house its population, which is expected to need to move as their islands are inundated by rising sea levels.

Get in
It is 64 km (40 miles) north of the larger Viti Levu island.

By ferry
Ferry service by Patterson Brothers Shipping Company Ltd connects Vanua Levu to Viti Levu and Ovalau.

Get around

 * Buses are frequent on the Labasa - Savusavu route
 * The last bus from Nabouwalu to Labasa is around 16:00. It's a 4-5 hour trip on the local bus, quicker on the shipping line bus.  The buses from Labasa to Kiobo will pass Nabouwalu.
 * To Taveuni. Bus waits at Labasa at 04:30, Savusavu at 05:30.  Ferry returns at 13:30 from the Suncity jetty or in the morning.

See

 * A 17,600-hectare (43,000 acres) area covering much of the interior of the Natewa/Tunuloa peninsula is the Natewa/Tunuloa Peninsula Important Bird Area. The Important Bird Area covers the largest tracts of remaining old-growth forest on the peninsula, which is on the south of Vanua Levu, and it supports a population of vulnerable shy ground doves.

title: Vanua Levu


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Vanuatu

Vanuatu (previously known as the New Hebrides Islands) is an archipelago nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The archipelago more than 80 islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.

Understand
Vanuatu is one of the smallest of five independent Melanesian countries in the southwest Pacific. The archipelago of 83 or so islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.

History
The prehistory of Vanuatu is obscure; archaeological evidence supports the commonly held theory that peoples speaking Austronesian languages first came to the islands some 4,000 years ago. Pottery fragments have been found dating back to 1300–1100 BC.

The first island in the Vanuatu group discovered by Europeans was Espiritu Santo, when in 1606 the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós working for the Spanish crown, spied what he thought was a southern continent. Europeans did not return until 1768. In 1774, Captain Cook named the islands the New Hebrides, a name that lasted until independence.

During the 1860s, planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and the Samoa Islands, in need of labourers, instigated a long-term indentured labor trade called "blackbirding": essentially slavery. At the height of the labor trade, more than one-half the adult male population of several of the islands worked abroad. Fragmentary evidence indicates that the current population of Vanuatu is much lower than that of pre-contact times.

The British and French agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium. Challenges to this form of government began in the early 1940s. The arrival of Americans during World War II, with their informal demeanor and relative wealth, was instrumental in the rise of nationalism in the islands. The belief in a mythical messianic figure named John Frum was the basis for an indigenous cargo cult (a movement attempting to obtain industrial goods through magic) promising Melanesian deliverance. Today, John Frum is both a religion and a political party with a member of Parliament.

In 1980, amidst the brief Coconut War, the independent Republic of Vanuatu was created. During the 1990s Vanuatu experienced political instability which eventually resulted in a more decentralized government. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, a paramilitary group, attempted a coup in 1996 because of a pay dispute.

Vanuatu sustained extensive damage due to Cyclone Pam in March 2015. While the island of Espiritu Santo was unscathed, destruction on many outer islands was severe.

Despite beliefs to the contrary, saltwater crocodiles are native to Vanua Lava, the northernmost island of Vanuatu. Given the proximity to the Santa Cruz Island chain of the Solomon Islands, where saltwater crocodiles are common, there is no reliable evidence that the species is not native. Their numbers were drastically reduced during the second half of the late 20th century.

Climate
With such a large north-south area, Vanuatu has all the tropical variances possible. From hot and humid in the north, to mild and dry in the south. The Capital Port Vila on Efate can expect 27°C in July to 30°C in January. Nights can drop to 12°C. Humidity from December to February is around 82% and 70% around July.

Rainfall from January to April is around 300 mm per month, for the rest of the year around 200 mm per month. The Banks Islands in the top North can receive above 4,000mm of rain in a year, yet the southern islands may receive less than 2,000 mm.

Cyclones are natural phenomena to understand and respect. Mainstream tourism facilities are solidly built and experienced in cyclone management. Cyclones appear (in varying degrees with plenty of warning) on an average every couple of years from December to March. By following instructions given by the local authorities, you will be in no danger.

Yachties commonly avoid cyclones from Nov through April. There are no effective cyclone holes for any size of ship in Vanuatu. Yachties typically leave to the north of the equator, New Caledonia, New Zealand or Australia. There is a small boatyard in Port Vila with haulout facilities for yachts.

Tourism peaks from July to December. January to June is quietest. Experienced travellers take advantage of these tourism troughs to travel, as airlines, accommodation providers and other tourism-related businesses discount heavily during this period.

January to June is a little more humid, but cooled by the occasional tropical downpour. The added bonus is that in this period, tourism numbers are low. You have more opportunities to mingle with locals and aimlessly do your own thing instead of being rushed by the crowd (except when cruise ships are in port).

Culture
Vanuatu retains a strong diversity through local regional variants and foreign influence. In the north, wealth is established by how much one can give away. Pigs, particularly those with rounded tusks are considered a symbol of wealth throughout Vanuatu. More traditional Melanesian cultural systems dominate in the central region.

Holidays

 * 1 January: New Year's Day
 * 21 February: Father Lini Day
 * 5 March: Custom Chief's Day
 * Easter (in accordance with the Gregorian calendar)
 * 30 July: Independence Day
 * 5 October: Constitution Day
 * 29 November: Unity Day
 * 25 December: Christmas Day
 * 26 December: Family Day

Visitor information

 * Vanuatu Travel website

Regions
The 83 islands of Vanuatu are grouped into six geographic provinces, the names formed by combining the first syllables or letters of the major islands in each.

Matthew and Hunter are uninhabited islands southeast of Aneityum. Aneityum people believe that the islands are in their historical territory. Aneityum appears to have provided the ancestors of the people of New Caledonia and there are cultural links particularly with the Loyalty Islands.

Cities

 * - capital

Other destinations

 * - Vanuatu's biggest island, and popular with divers. It boasts shipwrecks for scuba diving, delightful beaches, coconut plantations, jungle and traditional villages where young men still engage in age-old rituals to celebrate their coming of age, and where women are provided with special places to stay for the time they menstruate. Champagne Beach can compete with any other beach in the South Pacific, and is therefore one of the most popular places to visit.
 * - A good place to dive into the divers' cultural traditions of indigenous peoples of Vanuatu. This is a place where stories of cannibals and spirit caves come to life and a good chance to watch the ritual kastom dances of the locals, in this case, the Small Nambas and Big Nambas people.
 * - A good place to dive into the divers' cultural traditions of indigenous peoples of Vanuatu. This is a place where stories of cannibals and spirit caves come to life and a good chance to watch the ritual kastom dances of the locals, in this case, the Small Nambas and Big Nambas people.

Visas
A long list of countries are exempted from visas, which includes all Commonwealth and EU member countries. All visitors must have a passport valid for a further 4 months and an onward ticket. On arrival, you will be allowed an initial stay of up to 30 days, extended one month at a time for up to 4 months.

By boat
Subsequent 11-night cruises explore the Banks Islands, then the isolated islands of central Vanuatu, depart from Port Vila via Tanna island to New Caledonia on 19 Oct.
 * Vanuatu's main ports are Port-Vila on the island of Efate and Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.
 * Various cruise lines including P&O Australia operate regular cruises through Vanuatu waters.

By plane
The main international airport is in Port-Vila :
 * Air Vanuatu flies from Port-Vila to Australia (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne), New Zealand (Auckland), Fiji (Nadi) and New Caledonia (Nouméa).
 * Fiji Airways flies from Port-Vila to Fiji (Nadi).
 * Aircalin flies from Port-Vila to New Caledonia (Nouméa).
 * Solomon Airlines flies from Port-Vila to the Solomon Islands (Honiara) and Fiji (Nadi).

There is another international airport in Luganville on Espiritu Santo.
 * Air Vanuatu flies directly from both Sydney and Brisbane to Luganville. Both flights are codesharing flights with Qantas].

By airplane
There are a few charter airlines, these are Unity Airlines, Sea Air and Air Safaris, however the national airline Air Vanuatu operates the domestic network.

Within Vanuatu, several companies provide boating service between the islands. These include Fresh Cargo, Ifira Shipping Agencies and Toara Coastal Shipping.

By bus
From the airport, walk across the parking lot to the street, then simply take a bus/van into Port Vila for much cheaper than a tourist taxi at the terminal. In Port Vila, the buses are private minivans operated as public transport, seating about 10 people, which largely traverse the main road picking up and dropping off on request. They are purchased by individuals and villages (communal revenue source), to operate as businesses. Wave at them to stop one heading in the direction you want to go (tell them - you'll get a 'yes' or 'no'). They actually only go one-way along the main street in Port Vila, then leave in all directions a few blocks away. They are plentiful within the city and outside the city you can usually arrange for a bus to meet you at a particular time. If one looks full, just wait for the next one. The buses are used by locals, but are very friendly, cheap, and easy to use by tourists. Fare is usually calculated per person. The cost is usually 150 vatu per person anywhere around Port Vila. If you are traveling a longer distance, the fare may rise to 300 - 500 vatu per person.

Taxi
Taxis are plentiful within Port Vila. But the vans are MUCH cheaper. Just as reliable.

Talk
There are three official languages: English, French and Bislama. Bislama is a pidgin language, and now a creole in urban areas, which essentially combines a typically Melanesian grammar with a mostly English vocabulary. It is the only language that can be understood and spoken by the whole population of Vanuatu, generally as a second language.

It is a mixture of phonetic English woven in a loose French sentence structure spoken with ‘local sound' producing some comical outcomes e.g., ladies brassieres or bathing top is called "Basket blong titi"; no offense intended. An excellent Bislama dictionary is available from good bookshops: A New Bislama Dictionary, by the late Terry Crowley. Some common Bislama words/phrases include:

 * Me / you - mi / yu
 * Him / her / it (neither masculine nor feminine)
 * this here - hem/ hemia
 * Us /we / all of us - mifala / mifala evriwan
 * You / you (plural) - yu / yufala
 * I do not know/understand - mi no save
 * See you later / ta ta - Lukim yu/ tata
 * I am going now - ale (French derivation of allez) mi go
 * One/ two / three - wan / tu / tri
 * How much (is that) - hamas (long hem)
 * Plenty or many - plenti
 * Filled to capacity / overfilled - fulap / fulap tumas (too much)
 * Day / evening / night - dei / sava (literally supper) / naet
 * Hot / cold - hot / kol
 * What / what is that - wanem / wanem ia (literally wanem here?)
 * Why / why did you - frowanem (for why?)
 * Please / thank you / sorry (very sorry) - plis / tangkyu / sori (sori tumas) - sorry too much
 * Do you know - yu save (pronounced savee)

In addition, 113 indigenous languages are still actively spoken in Vanuatu. The density of languages per capita is the highest of any nation in the world, with an average of only 2,000 speakers per language. All of these vernacular languages belong to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family.

See
Vanuatu is not on the average traveler's destination wish list, except perhaps for those with a love for scuba diving, as divers have discovered the underwater treasures of this South Pacific archipelago a long time ago. However, even if you don't plan on touching this country's bright blue waters, it's a colourful mix of traditional Melanesian culture, friendly people, beautiful tropical beaches, active volcanoes and all the modern day facilities you'll need to have a great time.

The many islands rimmed with perfect sandy beaches offer lovely Pacific views. The Bank Islands boast great beaches combined with rugged terrain. On the largest of the Banks Islands, Gaua, you'll find the Siri Waterfall, which gets its water from the country's biggest crater lake: Lake Letas. Head to the island of Tanna to see Mount Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano. A tourist favourite, Tanna is also home to waterfalls and men in penis sheaths and grass skirts. If you get the chance, stay to witness one of their ancient festivals or rituals.

Efate is the place where most visitors begin their encounter with Vanuatu and home to the country's friendly little capital, Port Vila. It strives to bring the best of the archipelago together and is the go-to place for fine wining and dining.

Other places well worth visiting include Aoba Island (known for the crater lakes on top of the large volcano that defines the islands) and Pentecost (the spiritual birthplace of bungee jumping). Last but not least, the active volcanoes, lava lakes and local villagers' artwork are a good reason to stay in one of the traditional style bungalows on Ambrym.

Do
2022 - Just stop a van, ask the driver if he will be returning to your starting point. If so, get in (front seat if empty) and enjoy talking to many of the great and friendly locals riding the bus/van ( In my experience, they want to learn about you and your country and viewpoints). You'll go into small villages, to small homes as they drop a local off, see the real Vanuatu that nearly no one else ever does. Rent a vehicle, then driver yourself around the main island and back to Port Vila. GO SLOWLY, lots of small kids, people walking everywhere, and animals. Basically only one main road circles the island. Very hard to get 'lost'.

Take a local/locals' water taxi across the harbor to some other location in the Port Vila harbor.

There is a small take away restaurant by the supermarket, next to the public market. Look over the wall into the ocean, you'll be amazed by all the brightly colored and oddly shaped fish waiting to be fed rice and chicken bones, by the diners.

Money
The local currency is the Ni-Vanuatu vatu (VT). (ISO currency code: VUV). There are notes for 200 VT, 500 VT, 1000 VT, 2000 VT, 5000 VT, and 10,000 VT while coins include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 VT pieces. The current series of vatu banknotes is printed entirely on polymer. Two series of vatu coins are in circulation, the post-independence (1982) issues and the new 2015 issues.

Credit cards and debit cards on the major networks (Cirrus, Maestro, etc.) are accepted by many businesses in town.

ATMs are available in Port Vila, and include the Australian banks ANZ and Westpac. The National Bank of Vanuatu has a branch at the airport and is open for all flight arrivals. Otherwise, banking hours are from 08:30 to 15:00.

Tipping and gifts
Tipping is not expected in Vanuatu, nor is haggling or bargaining; it is not the custom and only encourages a "master-servant" relationship. However, gifts are very appreciated and the exchange of gifts for services rendered fits well into the local traditions. Western governments have a hard time coming to terms with this practice as it is interpreted as bribery and corruption. But in the Melanesian culture, this practice is a normal way to do business... well before the European colonisers introduced money.

A bag of rice to a village chief may be received with gratitude and dignity, but to offer triple the value in cash may be regarded as patronising, plus it will artificially inflate the price for the next traveller; set a wrong expectation, and rapidly destroy the genuine spontaneous friendship so easily given to you.

A nice gesture is to give phone cards or a T-shirt, or school pads, pens, etc. for the children.

Shopping
There are two market areas along the foreshore in Port-Vila. The main market sells mostly food, and you can find all kinds of local produce there. Further north, near the beach, there is a row of grass-roofed market stalls that sell clothing, bags, sarongs and other items.

The woven grass bags and mats are widely available and very attractive.

Eat
There are many restaurants and eateries in Port-Vila, ranging from up-market places catering to tourists and expats, to more low-key establishments. The approximate cost of lunch would be around the 1000-1500 VT range, depending on where and what you eat. Some examples of prices:

 * sandwiches, around 450-600 VT
 * bacon and eggs, 750 VT
 * burger with fries or salad, around 1000 VT
 * main meal, e.g. steak or seafood, 1200-2000 VT
 * large, fresh-squeezed fruit juice, around 500VT

Lap lap
The traditional dish which you will most likely be offered once during your stay is a root vegetable cake called lap lap. Essentially this is either manioc (cassava), sweet potato, taro or yam shaved into the middle of a banana leaf with island cabbage and sometimes a chicken wing on top. This is all wrapped up into a flat package and then cooked in hot stones underground till it all melts together into a cake. The best place to pick up some of this is at the food market in the town centre and should cost you about 100 VT.

Tuluk
Tuluk is a variation of lap lap with the cake rolled into a cylinder with meat in the middle. It tastes a lot like a sausage roll. You can find these again in the market (usually from mele village people) but they will be served from foam boxes to keep them warm.

Steak
Vanuatu's meat is renowned in the Melanesian region. At the airports, you will see signs reminding you to pack the 25 kg of meat permitted to other nearby island nations. The reason the meat tastes so good is that the livestock are naturally reared, with no feedlots or other mass production methods used in some Western countries. This results in a steak that is very good indeed.

Seafood
As you may expect from an island nation, seafood is a common option and the quality is generally excellent. Reef fish are commonly found in restaurants, along with many varieties of prawns, lobster and the delectable coconut crab.

The coconut crab is only found in parts of the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and has been declining in numbers so rapidly that it is now a protected species in most areas. There is a minimum legal size requirement in Vanuatu of four centimetres, but the creature can grow to over 8 cm in length with a leg span of up to 90 cm. The crab gets its name as it climbs palms to cut down and eat coconuts; nothing to do with the flavour.

Kava
Kava is a local drink, made from the roots of the plant Piper methysticum, a type of pepper. Kava is intoxicating, but not like alcohol. Its effects are sedative. Some travellers have experienced a hangover from its consumption.

Kava is consumed in private homes and in local venues called Nakamal. Some of the resorts also offer kava on occasion for visitors to try.

Kava is served in a "shell" or small bowl. Drink the whole shell-ful down steadily, then spit. It's handy to have a soft drink on hand to rinse with afterwards, as the taste of kava is strong and not very pleasant.

The kava available in Vanuatu is generally a much stronger variety than the kava found in other Pacific islands such as Fiji, where it is comparatively mild. Four or five large shells in a typical kava bar will leave the inexperienced drinker reeling (or worse) after a couple of hours, and it can take a day to recover. Good advice to experience kava as pleasantly as possible is to go with an experienced drinker and follow their lead, take the small shells, and stop after an hour and a half. It's quite easy to find a local kava drinking buddy, just ask around your hotel and you'll find volunteers, maybe at the cost of a shell or two.

Kava bars (or Nakamals) are normally dark places with very dim or no lighting at all. This is because bright lights and kava intoxication do not go together well: so be careful with flash photography, which may not be received very well in such venues.

Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are also widely available. Resorts, bars and restaurants serving tourists serve a wide range of drinks. The local beers are called Tusker and Vanuatu Bitter. Note that take-away alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays.

Sleep
There is a choice of all types of accommodation, including resorts in Port-Vila.

Budget
When visiting other islands or villages outside of the cities, there are many small guest houses that charge around 2000 VT per night and offer full service (meals, laundry, etc.)

Many of the motels in Port-Vila and Luganville also fall into the budget category, with prices around 2000 VT per night. There are a number of websites which list such motels.

Work
Many people from overseas work in Vanuatu, either running their own businesses or employed by others.

Generally speaking, work permits are only available for positions where there are not enough ni-Vanuatu to meet demand.

Stay safe
Vanuatu is, on the whole, a safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative, though crime rates are said to be increasing, particularly in Port Vila at night. Take the same precautions you would anywhere else.

There are no seriously venomous snakes, spiders, or insects on Vanuatu. However, there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish. Saltwater crocodiles may remain on the eastern coast of Vanua Lava, but the likelihood of an attack is minimal.

Stay healthy
It is advisable to be immunised against Hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever before visiting Vanuatu.

Malaria is endemic within some areas of Vanuatu, but not Port-Vila. If you are venturing outside the resort areas, check with your doctor before you travel. Malaria may not be endemic but you may come in contact with mosquito carriers and visitors from outer islands who have malaria - particularly in the wet season and at the hospital.

Dengue fever is also mosquito vectored in Port-Vila and elsewhere particularly in the wet season. Be familiar with the symptoms as there is no cure all for dengue and malaria symptoms are intermittently leading to misdiagnosis. Many local clinics in the outer islands can test you for malaria.

Malaria preventative drugs have side effects which can cause problems in the sun, scuba diving, general stability and digestion.

Tap water in Port-Vila is clean and potable, but is best avoided elsewhere. Bottled water is not available outside the main cities. Fizzy drinks but not beer may be available outside the main cities. Giardiasis after using local water is rare. Tourism, cattle raising, and the rapidly rising population are placing stress on municipal water supplies.

Doctors used to treating common travel ailments are available in Port-Vila and Luganville. Any more serious problems may require some form of medical evacuation.

Be careful of any small cuts, scratches, or other sores you receive while travelling in Vanuatu. As in most tropical areas, small sores can easily become infected if you don't practice proper hygiene. Most of these things require common sense. Protect the wound with a sterile dressing and keep it dry.

Respect
Throughout Vanuatu, and especially outside of Port-Vila in the villages, life is strongly influenced by "kastom", a set of traditional customs and taboos that apply to all kinds of matters. Be aware of this, and respect locals' requests with regard to "kastom".

When visiting villages, women should dress modestly, wearing clothes that cover the shoulders and knees.

Christian religion is very strong. It seems common to invite and welcome visitors to attend local church services on a Sunday.

Revealing and sexy clothing (especially wearing beachwear in the capital) is not advisable, as over 100 years of missionary work has had its effect on the perception of what is considered as respectable attire in the islands. Regardless, it's considered disrespectful to the local people and can be interpreted by some indigenous inhabitants as an invitation for sex.

As Vanuatu is not a ‘fashion conscious' place no-one will notice or care if you were wearing the latest from 'the Paris Collection' or not. You are best off bringing a practical tropical wardrobe such as light cotton summer clothes that are easy to hand wash, a pullover and a lightweight waterproof wind jacket. If planning to go to the outer islands, bring a good flashlight (with spare batteries, you will use them), lightweight, walking shoes, sandals or good thongs (flip-flops or crocs) for wet weather and old clothes.

When exploring the outer islands take all the older clothes you can carry, wear them and give them away to the islanders when you are finished wearing them. You and your children will be aptly rewarded in other ways. Instead of dumping your worn clothes in a charity collection bin at your local shopping centre, your children will interact with the very people who would be the recipients of those clothes (most NiVanuatu people buy these second-hand clothes from shops in Port-Vila).

Sharing and giving is a natural course of daily life in Vanuatu. The T-shirt you give to one person will be worn by all his friends as well. Three T-shirts on top of each other will be their winter outfit. You will provide them things that are hard for them to obtain, save them the expense of buying clothes (basic wages are quite low in Vanuatu) and you will depart with priceless memories, plus have more in your luggage for purchased local arts and crafts.

Communicating with NiVanuatu people:
 * In Vanuatu, the display of anger, displeasure or irritability at a person or situation will reduce the recipient to a stony silence with a lack of co-operation or empathy to your point of view. Please be patient as it is a waste of time complaining. It will have no bearing on the outcome. And if you are verbally abusive, you will generate one of three responses: smiling, subdued laughter, or a fist in your face.
 * Don't ask a question with the answer built into it. Locals will always agree in order not to contradict you. "Is this the road to X?" will generate a Yes. Try: "Where is the road to X..?", and you might get a different answer.
 * Direct eye contact or raised voice level contact may be interpreted as intimidation. A local person's voice level combined with body language may be directly opposite to Europeans. He or she may nod agreement with everything you say in order not to offend you but may not have understood a word you have said.
 * If you're in a bus and people on the footpath are turning their backs to you, don't be offended: they're simply letting the driver know that they don't require him to stop. There are few bus stops in Vanuatu, and those that exist don't get much use.
 * If you see men or women holding hands, it's not what you may think. Men hold hands with other men, or women with women, because there is no sexual connotation attached to it. However, you will very rarely see a man holding a woman's hand in public because this would be considered as a public exhibition of sexual relations.

Photography
The Vanuatu people are a delight to photograph, friendly, co-operative and photogenic especially the children who are simply gorgeous. Yes, they love to be photographed but do not offer to pay to photograph local people as this will quickly discourage spontaneity and encourage commercialisation. Always ask before taking photos of local people.

In some cases, some people may be reluctant to be photographed for reasons that you may never know. It is prudent to enquire as to the fee for photographing cultural festivities as they are sometimes very high. The reasoning behind this is they put on the show, people take photos and make money selling these photos of their show, so they want to be paid accordingly. Shooting an exploding volcano at night calls for at least 800 as a setting and a tripod is essential for good images.

Telephone
The international country code for Vanuatu is +678. To dial overseas from within Vanuatu dial 00 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency phone numbers: Ambulance (22-100); Fire (22-333); and Police (22-222).

Vanuatu has GSM mobile coverage in Port-Vila and most GSM mobile phones roam seamlessly. You can buy special visitor SIM cards from TVI, which offer considerable discounts over roaming charges. Available at any post office.

International roaming from New Zealand and Australia is available. Telecom Vanuatu has a package called ‘Smile Visitor' which consists of a sim card with a pre-purchased credit. This can be purchased at the Vanuatu Telecom Office in town. Telephone: +678 081111. Email: info@smile.com.vu

Digicel is giving Telecom some overdue competition. Digicel offer a range of packages, and are widely available.

Radio and television
Many international radio stations such as Radio Australia, BBC World Service, Radio France International and China Radio International can be heard on FM radio in Port-Vila and in some other locations.

The national broadcaster, Radio Vanuatu is mostly broadcast in Bislama, but sometimes is in English and French. It is also available on AM and SW.

Distant AM broadcasts from Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji may also be heard.

Local and international TV broadcasts are available, but the national broadcaster 'Television Blong Vanuatu' is the only free-to air option.

Other broadcasts can be found on Telsat's Digital Pay TV service or via satellite.

Internet
Internet cafes can be found in Luganville & Port-Vila. You may also find that some post offices will also provide some kind of Internet facilities, and can be found on the main streets in Port-Vila and Luganville as well as on Espiritu Santo.

Postal services
Postal services to mainland Europe can take up to 7 days. You can send letters and postcards from mailboxes in the streets, however the incoming postal service can be patchy, especially for parcels, so don't rely on people sending you things while you're staying in Vanuatu.

title: Vanuatu


text:
Van Wert (Ohio)

Van Wert is a city in Northwest Ohio. It is the county seat of Van Wert County, Ohio, USA.

By car

 * U.S. Route 30. Van Wert can be accessed by US 30 which provides connection to Upper Sandusky, Bucyrus, Ontario, Mansfield, Wooster and Canton to the east and Fort Wayne, Indiana to the west.

Buy
Besides the Walmart and the Van Wert Towne Center on Van Wert's northside, the people of Van Wert, Ohio must travel anywhere from 40 minutes to 1 hour northwest on U.S. Route 30 to the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana to get to the closet major shopping mall and biggest retail shopping area.

Drink
There are plenty of choices for alcohol. Most grocery stores carry it, as well as the gas stations, drive-throughs and convenience stores.

Go next

 * Fort Wayne is about 40 minutes northwest on U.S. Route 30.
 * Mansfield is about 1 hour and 54 minutes east on U.S. Route 30.
 * Canton is about 3 hours east on U.S. Route 30.

title: Van Wert (Ohio)


text:
Var

Var is a département of France.

Cities

 * — the largest city and administrative capital
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)
 * — a "perched" village (and commune)

Other destinations

 * Iles d'Hyeres (Hyeres archipelago), often referred to as Îles d'Or (golden islands), are four islands off the coast from Hyères.
 * Porquerolles — the largest of the islands is an extension of the Giens peninsula
 * Île du Levant — the second largest island is mostly reserved for military use, partly a long-established naturist community centred on the privately owned village of Héliopolis
 * — the most mountainous of the islands is part of the National Park, and is known for rare flora and as a bird refuge. Île du Bagaud is a tiny island that is part of the national park, but no access is permitted

Understand
Var is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

By bus
A bus network managed by Varlib operates in the region.

Do

 * is a motor-racing track near the town of Le Castellet that hosts Formula One and other big races. The last F1 was in July 2022 but it's not scheduled to hold one in 2023.

Eat
Try the delectable tarte tropezienne while you are in Provence.

title: Var


text:
Varaždin

Varaždin is one of the most important tourist centers of northern Croatia. The old town fortification, the central part of the town, numerous museums, galleries, collections, and the Varaždin cemetery, protected as a horticultural monument, represent the main tourist attractions of this Central European Baroque town and ancient Croatian capital. Varaždin is located on the right bank of the Drava river in north-western Croatia, 79 km north of Zagreb.

Understand
The first written reference to Varaždin was in 1181, when the nearby thermal springs Varaždinske Toplice were mentioned by King Bela III in a legal document.

In 1209 Varaždin was declared a free royal borough by the Croatian-Hungarian King Andrew II which allowed it to develop into the economic and military centre of northern Croatia. Due to the frequent Ottoman raids, the town was structured defensively around the old fortress, thus acquiring the shape of a typical medieval Wasserburg. As early as the 13th century the Knights Hospitaller (in Croatian Ivanovci) came to Varaždin, where they built a church and a monastery.

At the end of the 14th century the Varaždin fortress passed into the hands of the Earls of Celje. Over the following centuries Varaždin had several owners, the most influential being Beatrice Frankopan, Margrave Juraj of Brandenburg, who built the town hall; the last was Baron Ivan Ungnad, who reinforced the existing fortification. When at the end of the 16th century Count Toma Bakač Erdödy became its owner, assuming the hereditary position of Varaždin prefect (župan), the fortress remained in the ownership of his family until 1925.

In 1756, Ban Franjo Nadasdy chose Varaždin as his official residence turning Varaždin into the capital of all of Croatia. It hosted Croatian Sabor and the Royal Croatian Council founded by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

Reformation and the counter-reformation left a lasting mark on Varaždin. With the arrival of the Jesuits, the school and the convent were founded. Furthermore, a number of churches and monasteries were built in the baroque style. As Varaždin was the seat of many Croatian noblemen in 1756 it became the administrative center of Croatia. However, when the great fire of 1776 destroyed most of the town, administrative institutions moved back to Zagreb.

By the 19th century Varaždin had been completely rebuilt and expanded. Crafts and commerce, and later the manufacture of silk and bricks flourished resulting in the creation of the town's theatre, music school, and fire department.

Get in
Due to its advantageous location, the town is easily accessible to many neighbouring countries.

By bus
Buses are very frequent from Zagreb and take around 90 minutes - check the timetables or the Zagreb Bus Station's website for times. Services into the neighbouring areas are quite frequent, some going over the border into Hungary. Buses also leave from other major Croatian cities almost daily for Varaždin. Online information for buses to Varaždin can be found at the Varaždin Transit website.

International departures (especially for Austria, Germany, Hungary and beyond) often make a stop in the town, and if there is a later bus that day, companies normally honour a 'break of journey' to visit the town for a few hours.

In Varaždin the bus station is on the western side of town, and the railway station is on the eastern side, around 2 km away.

By car
Those travelling from Graz in Austria should proceed to Maribor taking the M3 road to Ptuj from which they can cross into Croatia.

Travellers coming from Nagykanizsa or Budapest should use the A4 motorway once they enter Croatia which connects Varaždin with the Hungarian border.

Travellers from Zagreb can use A4 motorway which will take them to their destination in less than an hour.

By train
The most scenic and cheapest (but slowest) way to get to Varaždin from Zagreb is a local train (2hr 20min) stopping at every station between the two cities. The price of a return ticket is, with discounts for ISIC card holders. The speed of the journey dramatically improved with the addition of a faster (though more expensive) alternative of the high-speed tilting train connection operated by Hrvatske željeznice (Croatian railways).

Train services also operate north to Čakovec and Koprivnica (with further connections to Slavonia and Hungary), and there is a daily service to Split and to Budapest in Hungary.

Do

 * Football: NK Varaždin play soccer in HNL, the top tier. Their Stadion Varteks (capacity 8800) is 1 km south of town centre.

Buy
There are numerous nice souvenirs for you to buy in Varaždin. It is best to buy them from hard working artisans that have their own corner in Varaždin. The most famous of them is a Hatter (Klobučar). Owner of a small stand full of handcrafted hats has a nickname "Herc" and it's one of the most recognized man in town. Next to him is a hard working Blacksmith who crafts lovely souvenirs and next to him is a tailor with tons of souvenir clothing.

Eat
Decent lunch can be found in Zlatne ruke (Golden hands). Best place for pizza and pasta is Angelus, across the street from the city park. One can find delicious pizza in Rebus, about 10 km in Kučan (dirfections have to be added). Zvonimir restaurant provides great pizzas and there are many restaurants outside of Varazdin such as Cesljas on Varazdin breg. McDonalds is on Vrazova street. Next to the McDonald's there is Billy Kebab. The best kebap can be found in Zagtrebačka, 50 m south of the post office, and Gajeva street (same owners). One can get pizza slices 30m from McDonald's.

There are numerous cafes in the centre. Bars with R&B music are Soho, Tiki Bar, Morgans Bar, Mea Culpa, Rock Art Caffe. Main stream alternatives can have a good time in Lavra. One can enjoy a good beer and rock music in Vienna, Caffe Theatre (formerly known az Rogoz), Kult, Sax and Old City Pub. Vienna is across the road from the town theatre, Caffe Theatre is in the theatre, Kult is 200 m from the first two bars, Sax is next to McDonald's, Old City Pub is about 200 m from Stancic Square.

Sleep

 * Motel Garestin (Zagrebačka 34, 42000 Varaždin; telephone +385 42 214-314) - a new establishment within a short walk from the bus station.
 * Motel Garestin (Zagrebačka 34, 42000 Varaždin; telephone +385 42 214-314) - a new establishment within a short walk from the bus station.
 * Motel Garestin (Zagrebačka 34, 42000 Varaždin; telephone +385 42 214-314) - a new establishment within a short walk from the bus station.

Go next

 * Varaždinske Toplice (Varaždin Thermal Spa) is located 12km to the south-east of Varaždin. The famous spa renowned for its warm sulphuric water were established by the Romans in the 1st century AD. These days it is a destination with a range of modern indoor and outdoor pools. Varaždinske Toplice can be reached by bus from Varažidn. The ride takes around half an hour.
 * Trakoscan Castle is a stunning 12th-century fortified castle and one of the few from that period that are still standing in Europe. A major reconstruction was undertaken in early 19th century giving it a distinct neo-gothic look. It can be reached by bus from Varaždin.
 * Nagykanizsa in Hungary and Graz in Austria are also just a short distance away.

 * Ljubljana in Slovenia is just a short distance away, and is also a popular destination for tourists

title: Varaždin


text:
Varadero

Varadero is a relatively exclusive part of Western Cuba, abundant with private hotels, gorgeous white beaches and the country's only full golf course. The fantastic beaches with clear turquoise warm water makes this an island lovers paradise. If you are looking for "real life Cuba", this part resembles it the least.

Understand
Varadero is a resort town on the 30-km-long Hicacos Peninsula, off the northern coast of Cuba. The peninsula's shoreline offers the best beaches in Cuba, as well as one of its largest tourist destinations. It first gained popularity with American millionaires (before the revolution and embargo), and was apparently Al Capone's vacation spot. In the 1990s a large hotel-building campaign transformed Varadero into a mostly four- and five-star all-inclusive resort destination. These are primarily filled with Canadian tourists, with their all inclusive packages being one of the most accessible winter time beach get-aways from Canada.

Get in
There are no trains.

By bus
Viazul Buses arrive from Havana and Matanzas three times daily at the. These buses also stop at the Varadero airport. They run a daily overnight service from Santiago de Cuba, stopping at Sancti Spiritus, Camagüey, and Santa Clara in the middle of the night. There is also a morning bus to Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, returning in the afternoon/early evening.

Alternately you can walk out to the airport parking lot and tip (~US$5-10) one of the tour bus drivers to hitch a ride to your hotel/resort - this always works out cheaper than taxi if you travel solo.

It may also be possible to get to Havana on a hotel transfer bus for about ~US$10 by negotiating with the driver.

By taxi
A taxi from airport to the town (about 10 km) costs about ~US$25-30. It may be possible to bargain the fare to about ~US$20, but not much less.

By plane

Many package tours fly directly to Juan Gomez airport from Canada and from Europe, the second busiest airport in Cuba. Its situated between Matanzas and Varadero. There is a currency exchange booth in the departures hall. The booth in the arrivals hall is now closed.

There is no money exchange booth (Cadeca) in the Arrivals Hall. The only Cadeca at the airport is in the departure area where there are many duty free shops selling Cuban rum, cigars, artwork and other merchandise.

By rental car
Possible in the Varadero Airport or through various hotels.

By road
Via Blanca Highway connecting Varadero to Havana through Matanzas.

Get around
Many visitors do not stray far from their package tour hotel. Depending on how close to the town of Varadero your hotel is located, many opportunities to explore either on foot or with a vehicle are present. Visitors staying at Varadero beach hotels (pretty much from the Internacional Hotel or past) end up walking the beach. Any trip to town will require a ride. Those staying in Varadero town have many options on foot.

By bus
There is a double-decker open-on-top bus that runs on a regular schedule from the tip of the peninsula (up by the Barcelo Marina Hotel and Princessa del Mar) all the way into the town of Varadero, with stops at the International Centre (shopping mall with about 100 stores, and restaurants), the open-air marketplace, and most major hotels. Look for the blue sign-posts to indicate stops, routing, and schedules. CUC5 gets you a day pass that you can use as much as you want to go along the whole peninsula. Watch out for the palm tree branches when sitting on the open top. The branches will whack you in the head, seen it happen at least 7-8 times. Cheers.

By taxi
All hotels will have a taxi stand. Fares are either metered or set by distance. Some hotels, mostly the better ones, have car rentals available right at the hotel. There are also several rental outlets in Varadero.

Other
In town, there are motorized trikes with a round enclosure (think of a car-sized orange) that are available for hire, either for sightseeing or point-to-point travel. These are referred to as Coco Taxi.

There are also horse-drawn caleches (carriages) available for hire. They are more prevalent in town, but any hotel concierge or front desk can arrange one upon request.

Mopeds are readily for hire throughout town at a cost of ~US$9/hr, ~US$12 for two hours or ~US$20/day. You will need a drivers license to rent one, even a learners one will do.

See

 * Parque Josone – A park in the middle of Varadero filled with birds, vendors, music and camel rides for the kids.

Do

 * Beach – The white sandy beaches of Varadero are considered the best in Cuba. All shorelines are open to the public and the beach generally gets better further out in the peninsula. So especially if you're staying at the base of the peninsula, find a way out to either the town center or by some of the nice resorts to enjoy the best Varadero has to offer.

 * Delfinario – A dolphin show with the option to actually swim with the captive dolphins, ~US$15 for the show and ~US$85 for the show + swim. However, you should reconsider whether this is actually a proper way to treat animals.

 *  Villa Du Pont – Once the residence of Irénée Du Pont, the green-roofed hacienda style building built in 1928 is today the headquarters of the Varadero Golf Club. The golf course, just a few steps away, features 18 holes, the largest in Cuba. The visitor has the opportunity to admire the splendor of its mahogany furniture, floors made out the finest Italian marble, bronze candelabra and oil paintings. The basement offers Varadero´s most luxurious and expensive restaurant, "Las Américas". On the first floor there are 5 finely decorated and equipped guest rooms, plus a presidential suite. A few steps higher on the second floor, an attractive bar "Mirador" (open 24 hours), product of a mixture between art deco and Moorish style, will surely keep you there sipping tasty Cuban cocktails at sunset.

Money
In Varadero, Cayo Largo del Sur, Jardines del Rey (Coco and Guillermo Keys), Santa Lucía Beach, Covarrubias Beach, and Holguín province, you can often pay in euros, US dollars, and Canadian dollars.

As of 2022, foreign currencies are more valuable, and some shops will not accept Cuban pesos or will offer a better deal if you pay with a foreign currency.

Credit cards (except those issued by US banks or their branches in other countries) can be used in most Varadaro shops but it is more useful to take cash (CUCs) to the markets.

Currency exchange: You may exchange euros, Canadian dollars, pounds, Swiss francs, and others for Cuban pesos. The exchange rates for those currencies are set in accord with the exchange rates on the international market. You can obtain Cuban Pesos in the CADECAs or at any local bank or at the front desk of your resort. Make sure you count your change at CADECA before leaving the booth. The exchange booth at the Varadero Airport is known to short-change tourists.

Shopping
Beach Vendors are abundant on the beaches bracketing the resorts. Their "carts" are built up from a bicycle with many shelves and hooks to display their wares while easily rolling along the beach. Haggling is not as common in Cuba as it is in the Dominican but it can be done.

The usual items that people shop for in Cuba are rum, cigars, coffee and jewelry.

Rum is best purchased at the Casa de Ron, this shop has the best selection. Though other small grocery stores and hotel gift shops stock the favorites.

Across the street from the Casa de Ron is the cigar shop. Again, the selection is enormous and the prices are better than in some of the hotel gift shops.

Eat
Many packages are "all-inclusive" at major resorts, especially those further up the peninsula. These cater primarily to North American tourists, who make up the bulk of visitors. Some of them do offer room/hotel packages (EP, or European Plan), but they are becoming harder to find. Most hotels past the golf course are all-inclusive by circumstance, as there are few nearby restaurants. There is a very good restaurant at the Marina, and several at the International Shopping Centre. The clubhouse at the Varadero Golf Course (this was the old Dupont Mansion) has an extensive menu and a lovely setting overlooking the ocean on one side, the golf course on the other.

In the town of Varadero, there is everything from open-air marketplace-type food stalls to the local version of fast food. In town you can find: Pollo Loco (pronounced poy-yo lo-ko, or crazy chickens), hamburguesas con queso (cheeseburgers), sandwiches (being a Miami invention, pressed Cuban sandwiches are hard to find), and the odd pizza joint. There are also a few restaurants serving sit-down dinners and lunches. Chicken, pork and fish are the most frequent items, but beef is not hard to find. Menus are usually posted outside.

Visitors staying at any of the hotels in town have many choices. Many of these hotels are older and nowhere near as fancy as the beach resorts, and they cater to a different clientele.

Drink
The Mojito is Cuba's signature drink. Made with freshly crushed mint, lime juice and white rum it is a unique delicious flavour. Second to the Mojito is the Cuba Libre, a combination of rum, cola and lime juice.

Cristal beer can be had for a dollar a can. It is a good tasting light pilsner. Mayabe is another good beer, not as light at Cristal and not as heavy as the much stronger Bucanero or Bucanero Fuerte. Most all inclusive resorts stock both Cristal and Bucanero.

Caney is made in the former Bacardi factory on the east end of the island. It is Cuba's premium brand of rum. It's available in Carta Blanca (white), or traditionally darker varieties of differing aging quality. Rum is called "ron" in Cuba and "ron mulatta" is a cheaper brand often supplied to inclusive hotels (it tastes just as good). If you don't drink rum you might want to stop into the duty free store on the way down and bring your favorite drink. Low-quality Russian vodka can be obtained in Havana, but high-quality spirits are hard to find and expensive as it caters to Cuba’s tourists.

Wine made in Cuba is very sweet and not all that far from grape juice. It has its charms but true wine lovers may want to bring a bottle from home or the duty free shop.

Cubans also drink plenty of coffee, and they like to brew it strong. Order café espresso for a straight shot, or café con leche if you'd like it mixed with warm milk. Ask for café americano if you want a milder brew.

You can drink the water in Cuba, but it is recommended that you purchase bottled water, which is available throughout the island in hotels and resorts. Another option is to buy a big bottle of water on your first days and keep refilling it at the resort drink fountains where water, cola and other soft drinks are dispensed.

Sleep
Varadero has by far the biggest diversity of hotels in Cuba, you will find whole range of accommodation from little hotels to well known international chains like Melia, Sandals, Iberostar or the local Cubanacan.

Cubans can be found staying in hotels of the Islazul or Horizontes brand. These hotels can be quite spartan if affordable. The experience may well be worth the inconvenience, although mingling is officially discouraged. The horseshoe shaped Hotel Islazul Herradura is a fine example.

Make sure when you get into any of these hotels: ask for a mosquito net or a room that is higher up in the building.

Casas particulares
Since 2012, casas particulares which can legally host foreigners have been in operation in Varadero. Apparently there is a wide variety in terms of the quality of the casas, from perfectly clean, nice and adequate to concrete blocks in the back of someone's house. Try to get a recommendation of a good casa particular from a trusted source. One casa particular which apparently has consistently good reviews from travellers is:
 * Casa Kenia on Calle 56 y Playa, located in the same street as the Varadero Museum. There are three, clean bedrooms rented, with air conditioning, TV and private bathroom. The casa is right beside the beach. Price per night is ~US$30 but is negotiable especially in low season and when the guest wants to stay for 3 or more nights. Kenia's mother sometimes runs a restaurant, but when this is closed, Kenia and her husband will sometimes let you use their own kitchen facilities.

Connect
The nicer hotels will have internet access. Otherwise you can visit the town's ETECSA, and buy and use internet cards for around CUC5/hr. This is an internet cafe, there's no Wi-Fi available.

Stay safe
Cuba in general, and Varadero in particular, are very safe places for travellers. Varadero is pretty strictly a tourist enclave, with limited access for locals, and routinely policed. Elsewhere in Cuba is much different. It is, however, arguably the safest country in the Caribbean for travelers, including single females. Use your common sense and you'll be fine.

 * Credit card scam at Varadero Airport – This scam involves storekeepers in small shops taking out a purchase as a cash advance on your credit card. When the victim tries to purchase, the shopkeeper says 'one moment' and goes to an accomplice working at the CADECA cash exchange counter to give the amount of the cash advance and the card number. The CADECA teller then processes the cash advance, and the storekeeper asks the victim to return to show passport and sign. The receipt appears like a sale as it is written 'VENTA'. The bank teller gives the cash directly to the shopkeeper. In addition, the shopkeeper can easily give a box of fake cigars from a bag or other source. Because the receipt comes from the bank counter and the client has signed for what is supposedly a cash advance, credit card companies (i.e. MasterCard) are reluctant to refund or complain against this particular (and very lucrative) merchant. The lesson for the tourist is to never let one's credit card out of one's hands, and even then in many places it is better to pay cash. Also, shops are less expensive after Customs than in the pre check-in lounge. Caveat emptor!

 * Beach safety – The flag system on the beaches is simple to learn and will keep you safe while enjoying your vacation. Red flag, no swimming. Yellow flag, be cautious. Green flag, go swim. Strong tides can pull you out further than you intended to go and then keep you out there. Life guards often can be seen patrolling wearing Red Cross symbols on their shirts.

 * Transferring money – Be especially careful when transferring money at the airport CADECA, they've been known to slip out a bill when you're not paying attention.

 * Friendly locals – Be careful with overly friendly locals who join you in a bar, and later demand to be paid a few dollars for their company.

Go next

 * Santa Clara
 * Havana

title: Varadero


text:
Varamin

Varamin is a city in Tehran Province.

Understand
Varamin has an extensive history. The raiding of Ray by the invading Mongols and Timurids, generated a flux of migrations to this area.

See
Amongst the significant antiquities of Varamin are the mausoleum of Imamzadeh Yahya built in the 14th century, and the Congregation (Jame') Mosque, from the era of the Ilkhanid Abu Saeed.

Buy
Varamin rugs and carpets have geometric patterns with repeated medallions, especially on runners. They are made by tribal people who either live in or pass by Varamin.

title: Varamin


text:
Varanasi

Varanasi (Hindi: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī), once known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi, is a city at the banks of the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh, India. Being the most sacred city in Hinduism and Jainism, and important in the history of Buddhism, Varanasi is India's most important pilgrimage destination. It was home to 1.2 million people as of 2011.

Understand

Varanasi (vah-rah-nnuh-see) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with settlements dating back to the 11th century BCE. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi brings salvation (nirvāṇa) and so they make the trip to the city when they realise that they are close to death. For some, the culture shock of the burning corpses in plain view and the faeces overflowing from the Ganges can be a bit overwhelming. However, the scene of pilgrims doing their devotions in the River Ganga at sunrise set against the backdrop of the centuries-old temples is probably one of the most impressive sights in the world.

Climate
The city can be scorchingly hot in the summer months so instead, if possible, time your visit between October and March, and bring something warm to wear for chilly days and nights.

Tourist information

 * Varanasi tourism information

Get in
Varanasi is well connected by plane, train, and bus. Varanasi is mostly on the west bank of the Ganges. The on the north and  on the south connect the city to the eastern parts of India.

By train
There are multiple daily services to cities including Delhi (13 hours), Agra (13 hours), Lucknow (7 hours), Mumbai (25-27 hours), Kolkata (12-14 hours) and Siliguri (14-16 hours).

Varanasi is served by three major railway stations:

Here is a list of useful trains to reach Varanasi:

By bus

Arriving from Nepal
Buses are available from major cities in Nepal to the border city of Sunauli. From the Sunauli bus station, take a rickshaw (₹200) to the border crossing, get your passport stamped on the Nepali side then walk through the border. After 100 m of walking through no-man's land, you will find the Indian immigration office hidden away on the left-hand side of the road. After going through Indian immigration, walk 300 m and find the bus stop on the right-hand side. From there, take the government bus to Gorakhpur, not the private lines which are far less comfortable and stop everywhere. The bus trip between the border and Gorakhpur takes 4 hours and costs ₹60. To reach Varanasi from Gorakhpur, you can either take a train from Gorakhpur Junction (5-7 trains per day, 5.5-7 hour journey, ₹200-800 cost) or a bus (hourly, at least 8-hour journey, ₹130 cost). Budhha Air has also some packages for devotees visiting Varanasi.

The cheapest option is perhaps to take the bus in Kathmandu from the Monkey Temple to Birganj/Raxaul for about ₹700, and take a train from Raxaul to Varanasi- but you risk not making the border by 10PM because of breakdowns and the Raxaul-Varanasi train doesn't run often.

Arriving from nearby cities
There are buses run by state government from Lucknow (8 hours, ₹160), Gorakhpur (8 hours or more, ₹130), Khajuraho (12 hours, ₹250), Kanpur (9 hours - ₹195), Faizabad (7 hours, ₹105), Bodh Gaya (7 hours, ₹600) and Prayagraj (3 hours - ₹107 for AC, ₹60 w/o AC).

Get around

Many streets are too narrow to be reached by cycle-rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, and car and therefore, you may have to walk a bit to reach your destination.

By foot
Walking is the only way to see the waterfront and the ghats - but be ready to be hot, sweaty, and lost - locals are usually happy to point you in the right direction. The names of ghats and signs pointing to restaurants and hotels are often painted on the walls in Roman letters. For better orientation, walk into any bookstore and pick up a small guide/map book that will have the list and description of all the ghats.

By rickshaw
The chaotic streets of Varanasi are sometimes too much to handle on foot. Therefore, it will often be convenient to travel by cycle rickshaw or auto-rickshaw. A short journey of a few kilometres should cost under ₹50, while a longer journey within the city, such as between the ghats and the train station, will cost ₹100. Further journeys, such as to Sarnath (10 km), cost ₹500 there and back (with a one- to two-hour waiting period) or ₹300 one way by auto-rickshaw.

There is a pre-paid auto-rickshaw stand at Varanasi Junction.

By car or taxi
While taxis and cars-for-hire do exist, you can hire them for airport/railway/bus station transfers and for major city tour specially for BHU,Sarnath and Ramnager tour. You Can travel from other cities to varanasi by Car as its well connected by major cities of country.

By bicycle
Bicycle rental is available from many vendors. Inquire at your hotel.

See
Varanasi is not a city with distinct tourist destinations; the experience is in watching the spectacle of life and death on the river and meandering through the alleys of the old city.

Ghats and the Ganges
The Ganges is the most sacred river in the world for Hindus, and you will see traditional rituals and bathing occurring at all times of the day. On the Eastern banks, the Ganges is flanked by a 300-m-wide sand belt, beyond which lies a green belt, a protected area reserved for turtle breeding. The western crescent-shaped bank of the River Ganga is flanked by a continuous stretch of 84 ghats, or series of steps leading down to the river, stretching for 6.8 km. These ghats were built by Hindu kings who wanted to die along the Ganges, and they built lofty palaces along the river, most of which are now hotels, to spend their final days. You can walk along the river and see all of the ghats, but the best option for viewing the ghats is to charter a boat and see them from the river.

Hindus consider it auspicious to die in Varanasi, so some ghats are known as burning ghats, where over 200 corpses per day are cremated in full view before their ashes are eased into the Ganges.

Some of the most popular ghats, from north to south:

Temples

Do

 * Bathe in the Ganges - Over 60,000 people come to the ghats every day to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganga, most notably at sunrise. This is a fantastic sight to see. However, due to the sewage pipes that discharge faaeces into the river, along with sunken corpses, there is a risk of infection from numerous diseases such as hepatitis and bacteria such as e-coli. Reports have shown that the Ganges water has a faeca coliform MPN of 88,000 per 100 ml, compared to a desirable faecal coliform MPN of 500 per 100 ml.
 * Walking tours are operated by many companies, walking tours are a great way to see some of the harder-to-find sights such as the Flower Market and Ayurvedic Herb Market
 * Boat rides - Very popular, especially at sunrise and sunset. Boats can either be rowboats or motorboats. The most popular sunset ride is to start at Dasaswamedh Ghat or one of the many ghats along the river and head up to Manikarnika Ghat to see the cremations, then down to Dasaswamedh just after sunset to watch the evening aarti ceremony from the boat. Sunrise is another magical time for a ride, when the ghats are filled with Hindus bathing and starting their day - one of the most famous sights in India. You can bargain the price of the boat ride to around ₹50/person per hour. During the boat ride, other boats, usually manned by children, will float up to your boat to sell bowls with flowers and a candle to be offered to the river (₹10) or masala chai (₹10), or various trinkets that are overpriced. It is recommended to avoid polluting the river further by 'offering' non-biodegradable objects to the river. At Nishadraj Ghat, a few minutes walk from Assi Ghat, you can find a boat driver named Bhomi, a local singer renowned for his incredible voice and charming, beautiful songs; during the boat ride he sings anything from local folk songs to modern film songs and old devotional ones, and often improvises lyrics over his own songs to communicate with you and the various people gathered on the ghats.
 * Explore the alleyways  - The network of historical lanes and alleys behind Dasaswamedh, Man Mandir, Tripura Bhairavi, and Meer Ghat are not to be missed. In the main alley behind Dasaswamedh Ghat (entrance to the left at the top of the stairs), there are hole in the wall chai and lassi shops, silk merchants, western-style cafes, a small perfumery, a traditional instrument store, and a number of handicraft stalls. Sadly, though, other than the notable exceptions of Gangtok and Shimla, Indian cities refuse to ban bikes, regardless of how narrow an alley may be, and Varanasi is no exception. So the opportunity to savour the unique atmosphere of an ancient Indian city is somewhat destroyed by having to avoid bikes and listen to the sound of constant honking of horns. Still, despite this drawback, the lanes are a must for any traveller visiting Varanasi..

Festivals

 * Chhath Pooja (November) - The four day festival for the sun god, Dala aka Surya. Rituals include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and aragh (water) to the setting and rising sun.
 * Deepavali, or Diwali (October–November) - The five day festival of lights. The special decorations, ceremonies at the temples, and aarti ceremony at the ghats are spectacular. After Diwali there is a day known as Dev Deepavali. On this day all the ghats have oil lamps lit on the ghat steps which is a very pleasant sight to watch. Use the boat ride if you are not with any local. Avoid walking through the ghat on that day.
 * Maha Shivaratri (February) - A Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva, who lived in Varanasi according to Hindu mythology. On this day, the streets of Varanasi are filled with pilgrims and parades dedicated to Shiva occur all day. Entrance to temples will require long queue and the temples will be extremely crowded. The day of Shivaratri is also the last day of the Dhrupad Mela, a festival of "Hindustani" (a form of Indian classical music) that goes on night and day for about 72 hours.

Yoga classes
Yoga classes are very popular among visitors to Varanasi.

Ayurveda treatment classes
Ayurveda treatment is common in Varanasi and you can take classes to learn the techniques:

Buy
Varanasi is famous for its fine silk - it's on offer everywhere, but shop around and haggle!

Eat

Banarasi Khana, or local delicacies, are known for their flavours. Many dishes here are flavoured with asafoetida, ginger, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and/or dried fenugreek leaves.

Benares Dum Aloo is different from the dum aloo cooked elsewhere in India because the potatoes are stuffed with and cooked in gravy that includes jaggery, fennel, and chilli paste.

Varanasi is also known for its street food and chaat vendors. Aloo chaat is very common.

Varanasi Paan is famous all over India. Paan is an assortment of flavours wrapped in a betel leaf. There are two versions: One that includes tobacco, and one that includes only sweet flavours. The exact ingredients depend on how much you offer, which can be as little as ₹10 or as much as ₹300. To eat the sweet version, shove the entire leaf in your mouth at once and chew until you swallow!

Lassi from Pahalwan Lassi at Ravidas Gate in Lanka. Age-old shop for delicacies like Lassi, Malaiyyo and Rabri.

Rabri Malai Balai is a popular dessert in Varanasi that includes milk, sugar, almonds, and pistachio nuts. You can find it served in hole-in-the-wall or sweet shops.

There are plenty of food outlets with a very dynamic range in quality. The restaurants closer to the ghats cater more to foreign tourists, with variable success.

Local delicacies

 * Kashi Chat Center: (near Godowlia Crossing) Good assortment of exotic chats. Try out the Aloo Tikia Chat.
 * Lotus lounge: (at mansoravor ghat) through the alleys, great food a must for every visitors.
 * Madhur Jalpan: The best place for laddoos and other famous sweet delicacies is 'Madhur Jalpan', a shop that has been frequented by more than two prime ministers of India! Madhur Jalpan is on Baradev - next to the Kainiya Chitra Mandir. Again, on a small alleyway, but the sweets are to die for.
 * Shiv Lassi Bhandar: (near the main gate of RamNagar Fort) Lassi with layers of Malai and Rabri. Superb Stuff.

Budget

 * A C Shahi Restaurant & Kesari Restaurant near Dasashwmedh ghat in Godaulia and Shahi Restaurant near Rathyatra crossing serve very good vegetarian north and south Indian dishes.
 * Cozy Corner Restaurant (CCR) Homely, healthy and hygienic is the motto of CCR. They specialise in Indian, South Indian and Chinese and serve fantastic dosas and chole bhature. It's a nice cozy place to hang out and the service is superb. Located just down the street from Assi Ghat. Turn left on Dumrao Bagh (first street when walking from the ghat) and walk about 50 m, just past Open Hand. Phone +91 9369305877.
 * Diamond Hotel and Jaika Restaurant near Vijaya Talkies Crossing in Bhelupur serve very good north Indian dishes.
 * Dosa Cafe, (in the main alley behind the ghats, north of the main ghat) serves delicious South Indian dishes for a good price.
 * Ganga Paying Guest House & Rooftop Restaurant, (near Assi Ghat on the bank of River Ganges) +91 9936491103. A very nice place to eat with an awesome view of River Ganges and all the ghats. The food is very nice but it takes a little time but with that beautiful view you would like to spend more time sitting there even without food.
 * Karki's Restaurant If you're in Assi Ghat this place is a great oasis with a rooftop restaurant that serves cheap but great quality Nepalese & Italian food among others. Highly recommended are the Nepalese Thali and Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta (only Saturday & Sunday). It's on the main road down to Assi Ghat on the left, look for the green roof as it's upstairs and has a small entrance. Say hi to Karki and his gorgeous daughter who loves to poke faces at guests.
 * Mona Lisa Cafe, (just south and opposite Shiva Cafe). Another good and popular cheapie, with a good range of things on offer, notably a thali for ₹20, and some Japanese and Korean dishes thrown in for good measure.
 * Shiva Cafe and German Bakery, D 26/4 Narad Ghat, (near Himalaya Lodge). In the main little alleyway that runs parallel to the river between Dasaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat, this place is deservedly popular. The food takes time, but that's because it's prepared fresh, and you'll be happy you waited when the food arrives. Staffed by enterprising Nepalis this has authentic pastas, sandwiches etc. Healthy food. Favourite among long stay residents.
 * Suryoday, (in the alley behind the ghats, a few minutes walk South of Kedar ghat) small but delicious menu in a clean little spot by Kedar Ghat.
 * Shiva Cafe and German Bakery, D 26/4 Narad Ghat, (near Himalaya Lodge). In the main little alleyway that runs parallel to the river between Dasaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat, this place is deservedly popular. The food takes time, but that's because it's prepared fresh, and you'll be happy you waited when the food arrives. Staffed by enterprising Nepalis this has authentic pastas, sandwiches etc. Healthy food. Favourite among long stay residents.
 * Suryoday, (in the alley behind the ghats, a few minutes walk South of Kedar ghat) small but delicious menu in a clean little spot by Kedar Ghat.
 * Suryoday, (in the alley behind the ghats, a few minutes walk South of Kedar ghat) small but delicious menu in a clean little spot by Kedar Ghat.

Mid-range

 * Flavours Cafe, Lanka, (above axis bank). Great coffee and desserts. Strong filter coffee and lightly accented lattes with a quiet ambiance make for a needed break from the city. Free wireless is also a plus.
 * Megu Cafe, Kalika Gali (near Meer Ghat), has excellent vegetarian Japanese food made by a Japanese woman who settled in Varanasi a number of years ago. All dishes are ₹85 or less. Closed on Sundays. [December 2011] Menu prices of all items have increased and expect to pay around ₹100-130 for a vegetarian and around ₹180-200 for non vegetarian main meal.
 * Moti Mahal Delux restaurant - in Sigra, 3rd Floor, IP Mall, in the heart of the city. +91 542–2220555. One of the best Indian and mughlai restaurant in the city with a unique fine dining experience. Also provides free delivery of your meal at any location in the city. Also serves authentic Chinese and continental.
 * Zaika restaurant - in Shivala, opposite Hotel Broadway. Good Indian / Chinese dishes; try the sweet-corn-pakoras.
 * Megu Cafe, Kalika Gali (near Meer Ghat), has excellent vegetarian Japanese food made by a Japanese woman who settled in Varanasi a number of years ago. All dishes are ₹85 or less. Closed on Sundays. [December 2011] Menu prices of all items have increased and expect to pay around ₹100-130 for a vegetarian and around ₹180-200 for non vegetarian main meal.
 * Moti Mahal Delux restaurant - in Sigra, 3rd Floor, IP Mall, in the heart of the city. +91 542–2220555. One of the best Indian and mughlai restaurant in the city with a unique fine dining experience. Also provides free delivery of your meal at any location in the city. Also serves authentic Chinese and continental.
 * Zaika restaurant - in Shivala, opposite Hotel Broadway. Good Indian / Chinese dishes; try the sweet-corn-pakoras.
 * Zaika restaurant - in Shivala, opposite Hotel Broadway. Good Indian / Chinese dishes; try the sweet-corn-pakoras.

Middle-Eastern food
Possibly due to a high influx of tourists from Israel, a number of Middle Eastern restaurants have opened in Varanasi, all of which serve very similar food, cater to a predominantly tourist clientèle, and charge a little over ₹100 for a thali.
 * Haifa Cafe: Assi Ghat, (in Hotel Haifa). Most popular for its Middle-Eastern cuisine such as the thali (delicious!), but has a wide range of Indian and continental dishes and is also popular at breakfast. The Jordanian brothers aren't here anymore. Now it is just a regular hotel. The food is awful too with the Jordanians gone.
 * Hayat mediterreian': near Assi (new location= behind dumraon bag colony park), managed by middle-easterners from Jordan. Try the labanha (dry yoghurt), or the baba ghanSoush (aubergine / eggplant) with pita. The feta is a tad high in salt. The restaurant has a tent-like lounge atmosphere that gives it a cult presence. Ask for "hello to the queen" and see smiles. Very good quality, pleasant open air magnetosphere.
 * Phulwari / Sami Cafe: near the Vishwanath Temple crossing, you sit beside a religiously near-defunct but architecturally gorgeous Mahadev temple, and sip on iced teas and nanas. Some locals still consider this a holy site and aren't too happy about the cafe being so close. This temple has been usurped by thugs who sponsor this restaurant. Perhaps avoid on ethical grounds. No other heritage Indian temple has a restaurant in its courtyard.

Coffee
Coffee is not as common in Varanasi as it is in the bigger and more cosmopolitan cities, and is often just available as the instant variety, served black or white. Even in those cafes that serve real coffee, it is still hit or miss whether it is of standard taste. All the cafes listed here at least sell the real stuff.

Tea
While chai shops are found throughout the city, a few are worthy of special note.

Alcohol
Alcohol is available at a few restaurants and hotels, such as the Radisson and Taj. There are several wine shops in the old city but they don't offer any sitting arrangement. You can buy whatever you want and bring it to your hotel room.

Other drinks
Bhang is a potent, powdered form of marijuana often mixed into "special" lassis, simply called bhang lassi. The drink is especially popular on holidays as Varanasi is a major centre of Shiva worship as it is offered to the lord in form of Prashad. Caution should be taken as it can be quite intoxicating and the effects last hours; tourists have been known to be robbed after consuming bhang.

Thandai is a cool, milk-based drink made with pistachios, almonds and saffron, topped off with a large dollop of malai (cream). Bhang is often added to thicken the concoction, though it can be made without it. Many Thandai stores are located near the main Godowlia, and most also serve lassi.

Sleep

The most interesting area to stay is around the ghats, which are the main attractions for foreigners and are close to the religious attractions. However, this area is extremely noisy and many accommodation choices here are subpar, so do some research before you book. An alternative to staying in Varanasi is to stay near the main railway station (Varanasi Junction). This area has some very nice places and is about 10 minutes away on a tuk-tuk. Another alternative is the much quieter Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, but it takes more than 75 minutes each way to reach Varanasi by tuk-tuk (₹200).

Some budget accommodations advertise free morning and evening boat rides along the river. However, the boat will take you up the river and then let the passengers know that for the return trip, there is a fee of ₹60 per person. Those who do not want to pay can get out of the boat and walk back.

Varanasi, particularly during summer, is prone to many hours of power outages a day. It is best to double check that your fan or air-con is run from a backup generator, or you may not have it for much of the day.

Budget
Cheaper hotels and hostels can be found around the "Assi ghat" and train station areas, check hot water and wifi for yourself.

Stay safe
Violent crime is rare, but still do be careful in the lanes after dark.

Power outages
Carry a light or phone; power outages are now rare, but due to sleeping cows and broken paving stones, the alleys are hard enough to navigate in daylight, let alone in pitch dark.

Stray dogs
Though generally well behaved, packs of stray dogs can become aggressive at night

Rickshaw and taxi scams
Rickshaw and taxi scams are common in Varanasi, and the driver will inevitably tell you that the hotel that you wish to go to has burned down, is flooded, or closed. Don't believe him. Drivers receive commission from hotels for bringing in new guests, and this is one way to trick newcomers to going to these places. Don't get annoyed, but see the exchange as playful banter and part of the Varanasi experience. However, if the driver continuously refuses to follow your instructions, threaten to get out of the rickshaw. If after all this you still end up to a different place, just refuse to pay until you arrive at your hotel. The same procedure will need to be followed when sight seeing, as drivers will inevitably try to take you to handicraft stores, from which they receive commission. If calling for a pickup from a more respectable hostel, be wary that other taxi drivers may listen in to your phone conversation then tell another taxi driver who will pick you up pretending to be your hostel, then take you to a commission charging hostel.

Cremation ghat scams
As you approach Manikarnika Ghat, you will be approached by touts posing as cremators or volunteers in a local hospice. These people will explain the cremation process and even lead you to a good viewpoint. They will then take advantage of your emotions by asking you to pay for some wood to burn the body of someone who can't afford it. They will usually insist on receiving ₹500; if you offer less, it will initially be declined. This is a scam. Either tell him you have no money or that you don't feel comfortable donating.

Air pollution
Varanasi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Many websites show air quality readings taken in the early morning, when pollution is at its lowest. Hourly air quality data is available here. Keep an eye on air quality data and consider wearing a (certified) mask, especially if you are spending an extended period of time in the city.

Cremation ghats
There is, rather understandably, some resentment at tourists tresspasing up to the cremation ghats for raucous sightseeing at the funeral ceremonies of loved ones. Behave respectfully and do not take photographs of cremations, even from the river. You can take photographs if it is from a distance; most do not mind. There are touts who for a fee will "stop minding". Note that if it is the family that objects then you have to respect it but not if local touts object in the interest of extracting money. Offer the money and if they seem ready to accept, withdraw it and photograph. Call the police if necessary.

Temples
Since this city is full of temples you will have to take off your shoes or sandals at every point, so wear flip-flops which are easy to take off.

Connect
BSNL, Jio, Vi and Airtel are the most popular cell phone services in the region. If you bring your GSM cellphone from home, you can buy a SIM card and call within India and abroad. You will need your passport and a passport photo to buy a SIM card.

Wi-Fi is available at just about every hotel or restaurant that caters to foreign tourists. Internet Cafes are common, especially in the lanes between Dasaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat. Usually, the shopkeepers will record your passport information before giving you access to the Wi-Fi.

Calling abroad is cheap from Iway branches.

Go next

 * Agra - the next point on the tourist "Golden Triangle". Buses and trains, including overnight trains, leave several times a day.
 * Bodh Gaya - the place where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment, and the most sacred place to Buddhists - 6 to 7 hours by bus.
 * Delhi - The capital can be reached via a 13-hour train journey.
 * Gaya - One of the most sacred places to do Pind Dan (funeral offerings for the benefit of the soul of the deceased). A 4+ hour drive from Varanasi.
 * Jaunpur - The district just northwest of Varanasi. Primarily a rural area.
 * Khajuraho - South of Varanasi. A number of 1,000-year-old Hindu and Jain temples. A little remote, but worth the effort to get there.
 * Lucknow - The capital of Uttar Pradesh. Known for its refined cuisine. A convenient place to break a journey to Delhi or Rishikesh.
 * Chunar - Located 55 km away Chunar is known for its gigantic fort overlooking the Ganges. The town is also known for Mughal era tomb and dargha along with a British era Christian cemetery.
 * Prayagraj (Allahabad) - Another spiritual city along the Ganges, Prayagraj can be reached via a 3-hour bus journey.
 * Sarnath - The place where Buddha gave his first teaching after his enlightenment, and one of the four main pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. 10 km from Varanasi (ghat area) - 1 hour by auto. Rates from Assi Ghat: Auto - ₹400 one way - ₹700 return, including an hour waiting time. Taxi - over ₹1,500 for a return journey, including one hour waiting time. (updated March 2023)

title: Varanasi


text:
Varberg

Varberg is a city in Halland on Sweden's west coast approximately 70 kilometres south of Gothenburg. The municipality, Varbergs kommun, has around 65,000 inhabitants, with half of them in Varberg. Varberg is known for its beaches, crowded at summer with visitors from many parts of Sweden.

Among other attractions is Varbergs fästning, a coastal fortress with a museum, and the Grimeton radio station, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Understand
During the Middle Ages, Halland was part of Denmark. Varberg had city privileges at least since the early 14th century, and has been an important centre of commerce since then. In the 16th and 17th century, the expanding Swedish Empire fought Denmark over the southern Scandinavian provinces, eventually annexing Halland in 1645. The fortress was expanded during the centuries, but was decommissioned in 1830 and is a museum today.

Get in
There is no airport in Varberg except for a small landing strip on Getterön only used for recreational flying, nearest international airport is in Gothenburg which has flights from most airport hubs in Europe. Ground travel to Varberg by airport bus to Gothenburg and train. Copenhagen Airport is an option, connected to Varberg by train, 2½ hours travel time.

Coming by rail, Varberg is along the line between Gothenburg and Copenhagen via Malmö with plenty of departures, every hour during the day and more often during mornings and evenings, named Öresundståg. Travel time from Gothenburg is 40 minutes and three hours from Copenhagen. Tickets for Öresundståg trains can be bought with credit card in machines at the station. They are not sold on board, must be prebought. Connections is also available from Borås with six trains daily, see Hallandstrafiken. There are no direct trains from the capital Stockholm, a change of trains in Gothenburg is necessary, with tickets from SJ. is a block north of the city centre.

Highway E6/E20 passes by just outside the city. From Stockholm use roads E4, 40 and 41.

Cycling is also a popular option with several bicycle paths passing through.

Get around
The city center is easily accessible by foot. Other options are bicycle and car. There is a small bus network run by Hallandstrafiken, there are at least half-hourly departures from morning to early evening.

See

Do
Get a spa at Apelviken or just walk around. Varberg also has some of the best wind surfing in Sweden, with a surf centre in Apelviken. The centre offers rental surf boards and it has a café that's open day time. Next to the center you find the restaurant "Majas vid Havet" [Majas by the Sea] which offers excellent food and wine. They're only open in July, and they put on concerts practically every night of the week.

Eat
Varberg has several different restaurants and bars serving food. It also has a fish shop in the harbour for those wanting to make their own meal. Apelviken, a short taxi ride south of the city, offers a wide range of food, with 4 popular restaurants spread out along the sand strip. "Solviken" attracts mostly customers from the nearby camping. "John's Place" is famous for its fantastic location - on the beach - and it has a good but pricey Bar-B-Q. "Majas vid Havet" is well known for its concerts with major Swedish pop groups, their good food and nice atmosphere. Be sure to order their tender ribs. The shooting star is "Olles", a small and very popular outdoor restaurant in the south part of the bay. They serve good food at great value.

Drink
Varberg has several bars and a good nightlife in the summer. Most bars are open to 02:00 on the weekends.

Go next
From Varberg there are excellent bicycle paths as well as good road connections (E6/E20) and frequent trains both northbound and southbound along the coast connecting:
 * Kungsbacka, 40 km north
 * Göteborg, 80 km north
 * Falkenberg, 40 km south

There is also a train connection as well as the road 40 connecting to Borås.

Other notable places to go to is Ullared 33 km east along the road 153 in Falkenberg municipality with the massive shopping mall Gekås.

Moreover, you can take the ferry to Grenå in Denmark. There are two daily departures and the crossing takes about 4 hours.

title: Varberg