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Kedah

Kedah (also known with honorifics as Kedah Darul Aman, literally "Kedah, Abode of Peace") is a state in the northern part of the West Coast of Malaysia. It borders Thailand to the northeast and east, the state of Perlis to the north, the state of Penang to the southwest, and the state of Perak to the south. Kedah is nicknamed "The Rice Bowl of Malaysia" (Malay: Periuk Nasi Malaysia) because of the vast paddy plantation along the western plain of the state.

Kedah, like Penang, is composed of two parts: mainland Kedah, which has 11 districts, and the island of Langkawi. Langkawi is the main tourist attraction.

Regions
Kedah is split into 12 administrative districts, daerah in Malay. They are, from north to south:
 * Langkawi: An island full of tourist attractions and a popular folklore of its own. It is the westernmost part of Kedah, and shares the same latitude with Perlis.
 * Kubang Pasu: The northernmost district in mainland Kedah. This district has a lot of educational institutes; one of them is the Universiti Utara Malaysia, or Northern University of Malaysia.
 * Padang Terap: This district is where the Pedu Lake is situated.
 * Kota Setar: This is the main administrative district of Kedah, as the capital of the state, Alor Setar, is located here. It's also one of the gateway to Langkawi Island.
 * Pendang: This district is primarily covered with paddy field, and agriculture is its main economic activity.
 * Sik: This is the largest district in Kedah. It's where the Muda River starts. This river is vital for the irrigation of paddy fields in Kedah.
 * Yan : The smallest district in Kedah. On its border is the Mount Jerai, the tallest peak in Kedah that is situated between this district and Kuala Muda.
 * Kuala Muda: Sungai Petani, the second-largest city in the state, is located here. There's also the Bujang Valley Archaeological Site that has the remnants of the past Hindu-Buddha civilization that was once in Kedah.
 * Baling: This district is famous for its Raja Bersiung (lit. "The King with Fangs") folklore, and the Bukit Hijau Recreational Park.
 * Kulim: Bordering Penang in the west, Kulim is an ever-developing district where the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, the first high technology industrial park in Malaysia that was established in 1996, is situated.
 * Bandar Baharu: The southernmost district of Kedah.

Cities

 * - (Alor Star) the state capital, population 417 800 (2020 census)
 * - the most populous city in the state (544 851 as at the 2020 census). An industrial hub
 * - Kulim Town itself is relatively small but Kulim district is the third most populous area in the state (272,024 as at the 2010 census). Kulim is earmarked for hi-tech industrial development

Other destinations

 * Bukit Kayu Hitam - Malaysia's main road crossing into Thailand
 * Changloon - 8km from Bukit Kayu Hitam, it is one of the main border town crossings into Thailand
 * Langkawi - the 99 islands of "the land of all one's wishes"
 * Padang Serai - the important town at Southern Kedah
 * Lunas - another important town at Southern Kedah
 * Pedu - a man made lake surrounded by virgin rainforest and scenic mountains
 * Kuala Kedah - ferry point to Langkawi, next to Alor Star

Talk
Most people in Kedah speak in Malay-Kedahan dialect but English is widely spoken and understood by many Kedahans. Besides that, several Chinese and Indian dialects are also spoken by the minority Chinese and Indian population in Kedah.

Get in
Langkawi International Airport

Numerous domestic flights connected from KLIA. Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Airasia fly daily to and from Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar Airport, ).

Penang ( has several international flights to other Asian countries.

See

 * Bukit Hijau Waterfall The best sight-seeing in the northern Peninsular Malaysia

Eat

 * Tan Kee roast duck - famous in the region, originally from Lunas, Kedah.

title: Kedah


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Kedarnath

Kedarnath is a town and pilgrimage destination in Uttarakhand region.

Understand
Kedarnath is one of the four Char Dham Yatra (चार धाम यात्रा) Hindu pilgrim centers. The town and the temple are open from May to October, as there will be heavy snowfall in winter. Specific dates are always announced prior to the Yatra (Journey) as per the Hindu Calendar, and one needs to check for specific dates for each year. You can still visit when the town is shut down, but be prepared for heavy snowfall. Gaurikund, which is around 4 km above from the Sonprayag base camp, also shuts down in winter.

At Gaurikund you can also take a dip in the holy water from a hot spring. It's a great relief to take a bath in hot water. Some may find it crowded and polluted.

It feels like you are just a few km away from heaven while on the trek to Kedarnath temple. You will need to trek 16 km for one side to explore this holiest Hindu pilgrimage site known as Kedarnath. Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest places of India and very popular across the Indian nation. Kedarnath temple is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state of India.

The word Kedar stands for Mercy and Nath stands for lord so the Kedarnath together can be referred to as The Lord of Mercy "Kedarnath". The Kedarnath temple is referred to Lord Shiva, every year millions of pilgrims reach Kedarnath Temple with the hope of positive happenings, cure, peace, and other motives.

On foot
Kedarnath (about 3,400 m high) is approachable on foot (16 km) from Gaurikund (about 2,900 m high), which is connected by road to Rishikesh and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.

After ½ km there is the office for booking mules and dolis. There will be plenty of people on the side ways asking you, if you need a mule, as soon as you start walking. However, it's always best to book in that office because the mules which they give are in good health and strong. The going rates for a mule in 2011 were ₹400–700. Porters (pitthus in local language) are also available to carry your luggage up to Kedarnath and leave you free to walk up lighter. They can deliver to your hotel directly or walk with you. Older or lazy people take the doli, which is carried by 4 hired people.

Once you start from Gaurikund, there is a concrete road to walk on and there is a small shop for every 200 m where you can get some tea, chocolates, biscuits, Maggi noodles etc. After 7 km, you will reach a place called Rambara. Most pilgrims take a break here and eat some food and then resume the journey towards Kedarnath.

By bus
Daily buses from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun ply early in the morning during the pilgrim season (about May–October) take you to Sonprayag, which is a base camp and where one can find suitable places for the stay. From here one can find the private taxis, which can cost around ₹40 per person (as of 2018) to drop you in Gaurikund. It takes almost one full day journey to reach Gaurikund if there are no landslides. But the bus journey is very beautiful because most of the 240 km is with mountains around and the river Ganga (Mandakini and Alakhnanda) following you throughout the way.

By car
If you choose to drive your own vehicle, make sure it has good ground clearance as there are rocks strewn all over the route. A powerful engine will make life much easier. There are two parking lots just before Gaurikund (100 m and 500 m before Gaurikund). Getting space for private vehicles is tough, but can be managed after polite cajoling discussions with the caretakers. It would be advisable to park your vehicle at Sonprayag and hitch a ride to Gaurikund.

Get around
Walking is the only option. Kedarnath is a small hamlet, and largely a labyrinth of hotels and guest houses.

See
The temple itself is quite an exquisite example of stone work. It houses the lingam, a symbol of the Hindu God Shiva. The temple is located among an astonishing mountain landscape, surrounded by peaks that are over 6,000 m in elevation. Behind the shrine lies Adi Shankaracharya's samadhi, where he is believed to have taken rest after establishing the four dhams at an early age of 32 years. At a visible distance from the shrine also lies an ancient Bhairav Temple, beyond which one comes out to green glades and tiny streams, fed by the surrounding (and approachable) glaciers.

The temple is closed from 3–5PM. Before 3PM visitors can touch the idol and do Abhishek with ghee. After 5PM no one can, but you can get Darshan from a distance. At this time the idol is in Emperor costume. But if you arrive later than 5PM, don't try to go back on the same day. You should attend the Morning Aarti and participate in Abhishek.

Do
Puja and aarti at the temple if you are a Hindu. Treks to the adjacent valleys will take you through untouched forests and desolate paths. Some pilgrims even take a dip in the icy waters of Mandakini.

Treks leading out from Kedarnath are strenuous. If one arrives here early in the season, glaciers blocking these routes would be a common occurrence—and quite risky since one can never tell the thickness of the ice.

Further afield

 * Gandhi Sarovar – With the Chorabari Glacier that feeds this lake, around 3.5 km from the Kedarnath, at 3,900 m, which makes for a trek of at least 1 hr. It is named after Mahatma Gandhi as his ashes were immersed here. There is a very nice waterfall on the way. The glacier retreats by the end of the season whereas there is snow/ice all over the route early in the season. It's better to start early in the morning because you move close to Kedar Hills and there would be no clouds. As the day progresses, clouds may spoil the view. There is a beautiful waterfall on the way. It's a nice place to roam around and take photos. There is a paved cement road to reach the Sarovar; do not take any shortcuts, stick to the paved road.
 * Vasuki Tal – Famous for its blue waters, 8 km away, and it involves a very difficult climb and crossing glaciers. It generally takes 4–5 hours to reach it, so set out early.
 * Enjoy the greens beyond the small Bhairav Temple on the hill to the right of Kedarnath
 * Bathe in the icy waters of River Mandakini
 * Tungnath – Second among the Panch Kedar Temples, which is in the vicinity (the other four being Kedarnath, Rudranath, Kalpeshwar and Madhyamaheshwar).
 * Triyuginarayan Temple – Famous for being the temple where Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Parvati are said to have gotten married.

Eat
Kedarnath is a strictly vegetarian place. There are a couple of hotels (dhabas in local parlance) on the straight path leading up to the holy temple, which run from 4AM to midnight and serve basic Indian food. Do not expect express standards of service or hygiene. Always choose cooked food, and prefer boiled. An average meal cost around ₹100, though cheaper options were available.

Sleep
At Gaurikund, there are some privates guest houses to stay. GMVN's guest house is usually the best option and bookings can be made online as well. Also at Rambara there are a couple of guest houses including one by GMVN.

Many ashrams and dharamshalas provide cheap accommodation in Kedarnath. There are also many private hotels and restaurants although most have only basic facilities. Kedarnath can be extremely crowded during peak pilgrim season. Rates for private guest hotel rooms are overdrawn and start at ₹1,000. The state-run guest house are generally fully booked, so book early if you want options.

Stay healthy
The air gets thinner after Rambara and many people experience breathing trouble between Rambara and Kedarnath. This is particularly acute for people walking up. The ascent flattens out about 1 km before Kedarnath.

Cope
The view is fantastic and a good pair of binoculars would make the journey even more breath-taking.

Go next
Apart from Rishikesh the following are the closest next destinations:
 * Badrinath – Another Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat with the most important of the four Char Dham Yatra Hindu pilgrim centers.
 * Gangaria – Gateway to the Hemkunt pilgrimage site and the Valley of Flowers.
 * Nainital – Back towards the plains, one of the most popular hill stations of India, famous for its lake.

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

title: Kedarnath


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Kediri

Kediri is a regency in East Java. It is located near Brantas River, the longest river in East Java.

By taxi
A taxi ride from Juanda Airport (Surabaya) to Kediri costs Rp200,000-250,000.

By train
There are some trains that stop at :
 * Senja Singosari, en route from Pasar Senen (Jakarta) to Malang (Business coaches, 17hr 6m)
 * Senja Singosari, en route from Malang to Pasar Senen (Business coaches, 17hr 5m)
 * Gajayana, en route from Gambir (Jakarta) to Malang (Executive coaches, 14hr 30m)
 * Gajayana, en route from Malang to Gambir (Executive coaches, 14hr 30m)
 * Malabar, en route from Bandung to Malang (Executive, Business, Economy coaches, 15hr 36m)
 * Malabar, en route from Malang to Bandung (Executive, Business, Economy coaches, 15hr 4m)
 * Matarmaja, en route from Pasar Senen to Malang (Economy coaches, 17hr 34m)
 * Matarmaja, en route from Malang to Pasar Senen (Economy coaches, 18hr)
 * Brantas, from Tanah Abang (Jakarta) to Kediri (Economy coaches, 15 hr 52m)
 * Kahuripan, from Padalarang (West Bandung) (Economy coaches, 13hr 30m)
 * Rapih Dhoho, en route from Surabaya to Blitar (Economy coaches)

Note: Economy and business class are air-conditioned; also executive class is.

By angkot
There are some active routes of angkot (public bemo/minibus):
 * Line A Sub Terminal Ngronggo – Selomangleng
 * Line B Sub Terminal Katang – Selomangleng
 * Line D Sub Terminal Tempurejo – Mrican
 * Line F Sub Terminal Pasar Banjaran – Terminal Tamanan
 * Line G Terminal Tamanan – Pasar Bawang

By ride-hailing services
There is a Gojek in Kediri.

See

Food souvenirs

 * Keripik bekicot, a cracker made from snail.
 * Getuk pisang, a banana snack.

Eat

 * Soto Bok Ijo, Terminal Baru Bus Station
 * Pecel Tumpang, Jalan Dhoho
 * Soto Branggahan, Branggahan, Ngadiluwih
 * Tahu Takwa, Tofu Stick, and Gethuk Pisang Jalan Yos Sudarso-Jalan Pattimura
 * Nasi Goreng Arang, Jalan Wachid Hasyim, Bandarlor
 * Sate Bekicot and Krengsengan Bekicot, Banyuanyar, Gurah
 * Roasted-Corn, Sekartaji Park

Drink

 * Ronde and Cemoe, Jalan Pattimura
 * Es buto ijo

Connect
The dialing code for Kediri is 0354.

Go next

 * Jombang
 * Nganjuk
 * Tulungagung

title: Kediri


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Kédougou

Kédougou is a town on the banks of the Gambia River, in the middle of the hills of the Bassari country. It is the capital of the administrative region that bears its name. For purposes of this travel guide, it is considered part of the Tambacounda Region of southeastern Senegal.

Understand
Kédougou is the largest city in Southeastern Senegal, which boasts a lush of hills, plenty of rain and rugged beauty that is distinct from the rest of Senegal. With a culture that often seems more Guinean that Senegalese, Kedougou would be a welcome stop for Senegalese travelers.

Formerly a part of the immense Region of Tambacounda, Kedougou became a capital in 2008.

The most spoken language is Pulaar.

Get in
It is 700 km east and south from Dakar.

The city is on the N7 national road.

See and do
Kédougou, with its beautiful mountains and waterfalls, is a center for eco-tourism.
 * Niokolo-Koba National Park.
 * Niokolo-Koba National Park.

title: Kédougou


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Keelung

Keelung, also spelled Chilung (基隆; Jīlóng), is a port city in the north of Taiwan, near the capital, Taipei.

Districts
Keelung is divided into 7 administrative districts:

Get in
Keelung can be reached from Taipei by either freeway bus or train along the same route, or a longer bus ride along the North coast. Both means of transport are very frequent, and stops for Keelung bound buses by various companies are located all across Taipei.

By train
Probably the easiest way to get to Keelung from Taipei is by commuter trains, which ply the route every 15 to 20 minutes and stop at many stations. Travelers heading to Keelung should be aware that although the city lies on the extreme north end of the main Western Line it is not accessible on all trains running north, many of which are bound for the east coast and will not pass through Keelung but branch off at Badu. Only take trains with Keelung clearly shown as their final destination or you may accidentally find yourself on the train to Taitung - a six-hour journey from Keelung! if this happens to you (usually on an express train), get off before the Badu station.

You can check the train time table here

Keelung is a large area which has several stations on the TRA network:

Many of the other districts of Keelung are also connected by the TRA network via the following stations:

By bus
The bus from the East-West bus station of the Kuo-Kuang Bus company (the building also serves as the terminal for the Taipei - Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport service) just to the left of Taipei Railway station is the quickest way to get to Keelung. Buses leave every 10 minutes and go non-stop to Keelung harbor for NT$55 one way, it is best to buy a ticket in advance. Journey time is around 35 minutes under good traffic conditions. The bus station and ticket booths are clearly marked in English. You can also use the 'Easy Card' that operates with the Taipei Metro and local buses. Touch on the sensor when you get on and when you get off.

Several companies operate buses between Taipei and Keelung. The journey can range from between 35 minutes to two hours depending upon the route taken and traffic conditions. Because of the large number of bus routes and stops, the high potential for delay, and the limited English ability of most drivers, taking a bus from Taipei to Keelung is probably not a good idea. Unless you are familiar with the greater Taipei geography and can speak some Taiwanese or Mandarin, it is wiser to take a train and transfer to city buses, MRT (Mass Rapid Transit in Taipei) or taxi to reach your final destination.

By boat
Keelung is one of Taiwan's busiest container ports, second only to Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan thanks to its long deep water harbour. A twice-weekly passenger and goods service to Xiamen is available, operated by the vessel COSCO Star.

A regular domestic ferry to the outlying islands of Matsu is also available, though it is very basic and used mostly by military personnel. The nightly ferry service to Matsu leaves the harbour at 23:00.

Get around
The downtown area is small enough to cover on foot.

Before you getting around you might visit the Keelung City Tourist Information. Tel: (02)24287664

Star Cruise also provided a range of cruising line between Keelung and nearby major cities, you might see Keelung as the center of travel hub to plan your holiday.

Do

 * Sample some of the culinary delights at the night-market - especially the baked crabs and fish ball soup.
 * Visit Taiwan's scenic northeast coast.
 * Take a photo of the replica Statue of Liberty adjacent to the Golden Arches - an ironic statement of American culture taking over in Taiwan.

Buy

 * Pineapple Cake

Eat
Miaokou Night Market

 * Stinky tofu
 * Oyster omelet
 * Pot-edged pancake soup
 * Bubble ice
 * Fried sandwiches
 * Bean noodle thick soup
 * Shrimp Taiwanese balls
 * Tianbula (Taiwanese Tempura)
 * Shaved ice (with different toppings)
 * Chinese sausages

Heping Island

Drink

 * The Starbucks coffee shop across from the railway station overlooks the harbor, so you can enjoy ship-viewing with your latte.
 * Bubble tea is on every corner- indulge yourself.

Go next

 * Jiufen (Chiufen) is a historic gold mining town near Keelung.

title: Keelung


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Keene

There is more than one place called Keene:

United States of America

 * Keene (California) - A town in Kern County in California.
 * Keene (New Hampshire) - A town in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire.
 * Keene (New York) - A town in the Adirondacks of New York.

title: Keene


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Keene (California)

Keene is a city in Kern County.

Get in
From Bakersfield, take Hwy 58 to the east.

Go next

 * Tehachapi - Located ten miles east on Highway 58, Tehachapi is home to a massive wind farm
 * Bakersfield - Nicknamed "the country music capital of the West Coast", Bakersfield is the largest city in the southern San Joaquin Valley and is thus the best option for those seeking lodging, transportation, or other services.

title: Keene (California)


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Keene (New Hampshire)

Keene is a city in southern New Hampshire.

Understand
Keene is the county seat of Cheshire County and has been a local center of commerce and culture for a long time. This is reflected in the profusion of pretty buildings in town, only a few of which are pictured in this article.

Keene is also believed to be the inspiration of the fictional town of Brantford in Jumanji. Scenes from the film were shot here.

By car
Keene is most easily accessible by taking I-91 in Vermont to Exit 3 and getting on VT-9 in Brattleboro. Then head into the traffic circle until VT-9 continues and follow it over a small bridge into New Hampshire (VT-9 becomes NH-9). Follow NH-9 about 15 miles to Keene. From the east, Keene is accessible via NH-101. NH-9 also connects Keene to Concord to the northeast.

Hiking
Highland Hill & firetower, Greater Goose Pond and Drummer Hill, Beech Hill Preserve, Beaver Brook Falls, Horatio Colony Trust.

Recreation
Keene offers a variety of recreational areas.

Wheelock Park, Central Square, Robin Hood Park, Otter Brook Dam Recreation Area

Buy
Keene, as well as New Hampshire as a whole, is a great place to shop due to the lack of a state sales tax. Keene has a wide array of shops and stores selling almostall things. Below are just a few examples of where to shop when in Keene:

Eat
Keene also features several major chains of mid-scale restaurants, each of which have their own bars. On Winchester St. are Pizzeria Uno, 99 Restaurant, and Applebees. Located off Winchester Street, at the Monadnock Marketplace, are Chilis, Longhorn Steakhouse, and the Olive Garden.

Main Street area
The Main Street (Downtown) area of Keene hosts several bars and nightclubs.

Churches
Emmanuel Baptist Church of Keene], First Baptist Church of Keene, Sturtevant Chapel, Hope Chapel, Keene Assembly of God, St. Bernard's Catholic Church, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church.

Go next

 * Mount Monadnock is 12 miles to the east on NH-124 in Jaffrey. There is a small parking lot where NH-124 crests over the mountain.  Just before Jaffrey Center, there is a sign pointing to the entrance to Monadnock State Park.  The trails from both locations lead to the summit.  Mount Monadnock is the highest mountain in southern NH and perhaps the most accessible for novice hikers, as well as being the most climbed mountain in the entire world.  No special equipment is needed to climb the mountain and it can usually be done in about four hours round trip for a healthy person.
 * Brattleboro, Vermont is about a 40-minute drive to via the Franklin Pierce Highway (State Route 9 West) and US Route 5 South and has even more beautiful buildings for you to look at.

title: Keene (New Hampshire)


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Keene (New York)

The tiny Adirondack town of Keene or Keene Valley, with a population of only 1,100, provides an array of services for campers and travelers, including food, lodging, and outdoor equipment. Keene thrives as a tourist and summer community. Many full-time residents, and most seasonal residents, take a strong interest in the surrounding valley and nearby Adirondack Park, with its great natural environment.

History
In describing the settlement of Keene, historian H.P. Smith writes “Pioneers penetrated its primitive forests and scaled the natural barriers formed by its precipices as early as 1797.” Most came by way of a rough, almost impassable road linking Keene with Jay and Lewis. Benjamin Payne was the first of those pioneers to put down roots in Keene. He emigrated from Keene, NH, by way of a marked tree trail from Westport. In 1860, the Beede Boarding House opened for business and welcomed T.S. Perkins, the first of many artists to arrive at this North Country wilderness and the beginning of a wave of summer visitors. During the latter half of the 19th century, Keene Flats became known as the “Yosemite of the East”. In 1872 more than 500 guests vacationed here. The first Adirondack Bicycle Club was formed here in 1897. It developed a riding trail between Keene Valley and St. Huberts. When it folded in 1920, the bike path became a hiking trail. In 1883 Keene Flats became Keene Valley with its own post office. Hiking, health, capturing nature on canvas and waxing philosophical in the mountain air turned Keene and Keene Valley into a summer resort.

The Adirondack Mountain Reserve was incorporated in 1892 and the road to the lower Ausable Lake was built. Guides and caretakers led visitors hiking, hunting and fishing. The tourism industry was established. At the end of the century the town was filled with guest houses, general stores, vegetable gardens, meat markets and all of the commercial facilities needed to run a tourist community. Dentists, taxidermists, car dealerships and insurance agents opened their doors as the 20th century began. Schools moved toward centralization, churches were built and sidewalks laid.

The economic backbone of the town remained the influx of summer people. They stayed at the Ausable Club, at Putnam Camp, on East Hill at Glenmore and Summerhill.

The town has an official town website and a more detailed site about life in the town maintained by two residents.

By car
Most residents have a car. During the winter, this area gets some pretty fierce snow storms, making it prudent to add leeway to one's itinerary, and bring snow tires.

By bus
A Trailways bus travels from New York's Port Authority, arriving every day at the Noonmark Diner.

By train
The nearest railway station is in Westport, 20 miles to the east, which is served by Amtrak and its once-daily Adirondack train between New York City and Montreal.

Get around
Most trail heads can be reached by any working car, but a few of the back roads require a four wheel drive vehicle with an appropriately skilled driver. Hiking trails are everywhere, so walking is a very viable option.

See
Keene and Keene Valley boast a location central to the Adirondack High Peaks region, so the views are breathtaking. Attractions are of an alternative, if more natural manner - the mountains and crevasses that rise on all sides in this area are spectacular.

Do
Keene Valley is the most common starting point for the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, and Mt. Marcy is the most popular mountain. A strenuous full day's hike, or a solid two day hike, Mt Marcy is New York's highest peak, at 5,344 feet. The views atop Marcy's peak are astounding, and on a clear day seeing well beyond fifty miles is guaranteed. Be prepared to encounter plenty of people, though, as Marcy draws a consistent crowd of fifty at the summit on most fine spring, summer and fall days. Fall foliage is best seen in late August. There are two trail heads for Marcy, one of which is reached by a shuttle from the Keene Valley airport.

Rock and ice climbing
It's probably best to pick up one of the many climbing guides available for this region. Less experienced climbers will probably want to hook up with one of the many local guide services.

Buy
One of the best climbing stores in the Northeast, The Mountaineer, sits right in the town of Keene. There are also several outfitters in nearby Lake Placid for those who wish to shop around.

Go next
Lake Placid is less than twenty miles west of the town of Keene.

title: Keene (New York)


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Keetmanshoop

Keetmanshoop is the capital of the ǁKaras region of southern Namibia. It's one of the main stopping points on the B1 between Windhoek and South Africa. Referred to in Namibia as Keetmans. At first, Keetmanshoop (pronounced keet-man-swoop), may seem like not much more than a quick stopover. The main reason for stopping at all is to refill on gas and check your tires (the dry, hot asphalt of the highway can make tires pop), but there is in fact much more to this town if you get the chance to discover it, either out of your own volition, or because your car breaks down.

An old German town, Keetmanshoop features a cinema, multiple restaurants, an impressive library, and easy access to some of the most visually stunning landscapes this side of the border.

By bus
Long distance coaches pass through Keetmans on a regular basis on their way between Windhoek and South Africa. Unfortunately the north-bound trip from South Africa arrives at a nasty hour of the morning.

By combie
Combies (shared taxis) travel regularly to Keetmans from various places in Namibia, including Windhoek, Lüderitz and Mariental. Combies also arrive in Keetmans from South Africa. There are also private shuttles that provide transport to and from Keetmanshoop.

By train
Keetmanshoop is 10 hours by overnight mixed train (seats only, no sleepers) from Windhoek. The bus is a much better option.

See

Do

 * Trek Best place to organize a trek through the Fish River Canyon Park. #24 Luchtenstein st., around the corner to the north from the petrol station where the bus stops. Look for the sign on the station window. Staff can organize transport to the Fish River Lodge, where a 5 day hike in the canyon is available.

Buy
The town has outfitters, a hardware store, and auto parts stores.

Eat

 * Uschie's A humble, friendly, portly eatery near the main road into town, Uschie's is run by an old German couple. The restaurant offers a huge number of different hamburgers, all delicious. Just as massive (and famous in South Africa) are the Greek salads.

title: Keetmanshoop


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Kefalonia

Kefalonia (Greek: Κεφαλονιά) is believed to have derived its name from the mythological figure Cephalus, the son of Hermes and a hero in ancient Greek legends. This picturesque island, with its captivating landscapes and historical significance, reflects a deep connection to the rich tapestry of Greek mythology and history. It is is the largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece.

Cities
Kefalonia towns are clean, friendly and small enough to get around with no hassle. It's the breathtaking natural scenery you visit this gorgeous island for, and visitors will not be disappointed. Lush forests, breathtaking mountains, and dizzyingly high cliffs dropping down to glittering azure seas are what Kefalonia is all about. The towns are mere conveniences—except for Fiskardo, they were all leveled in the 1953 earthquake, so most of what you see is of functional concrete construction with no nod to aesthetics.

 * (Αργοστόλι) – is the main town, which has serious shops and a rather underwhelming museum
 * (Αγία Ευφημία) – a sleepy fishing village north of Sami, becoming increasingly popular with tourists
 * (Φισκάρδο) – at the northern tip of the island, is popular with yachts and rather pricey and upmarket. It is the only part of the island which survived the earthquakes of the last century intact, but extensive refurbishment and repairs have given it a rather bijoux feel rather than one of authentic old Kefalonia
 * (Ληξούρι) – the island's second city and faces the capital, Argostoli, across a kind of elongated bay (there is a ferry)
 * (Πόρος) – a yacht marina and a picturesque village on the eastern edge of the island, rather self-contained between the sea and mountains, and has a substantial ferry port slightly separated from the rest of the town
 * (Σάμη) – the port town on the eastern part of the island facing Ithaka (the ferry from mainland, Patra, arrives here.)
 * (Σκάλα) – at the south-eastern tip of the island, is a popular and relaxed resort focused on beach holidays

Other destinations

 * (Άσος, Asos) – in the north-west, has a scarily steep descent to a Venetian castle on a small peninsula.
 * (Κατω Κατελειος) – waterfront village on the south coast.
 * (Λουρδάτα, Lourdata) – A spartan and sleepy village scattered alongside a beautiful long, sandy beach on the southern coast.

Understand

Kefallinia, Kefalonia, Cephallonia—so good they named it thrice. You may also hear islanders pronounce it as "sefalonia". The region, incorporating the neighbouring island of Ithaki (Ithaca) is known as Kefallinia, hence the name of the airport. The island is best known as the setting for the 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, though the level of movie-related merchandising is not as great as you might expect, even in Sami, the old-fashioned port in the East of the island, the portside of which was turned into a kind of set for the film.

Talk
A sizeable percentage of the local summer population live abroad in the winter months - there is simply not enough work on the island out of season (Nov - April). Hence the large number of Greeks with American accents on the island. English is understood almost universally, with only senior citizens confined to their native language. Italian is widely recognised, due to the island's strong historical links with that nation. Venture a greeting in Greek anywhere on the island and you will get a warmly enthusiastic response.

By plane
The main airport is located near Argostoli and Lassi, and is a typical small island airport. In other words, if there are two or more planes on the ramp, it can get very crowded! The main travel days are Tuesday and Sunday, and it's bedlam on both days. Remember that chaos is a Greek word and just go with the flow—the staff are surprisingly cheerful and relaxed. There is a small cafe bar and gift shop both before and after security.

By boat
You can also arrive by frequent ferry from Italy, Patras & Killini on the Greek mainland & Pessada to connect with Zakynthos.

Get around

 * KTEL operate bus routes between the towns and villages, but routes are too infrequent to be of much use to tourists. Unless you have arrived on your own yacht, in which case you'll have no problem getting to most parts, you need a car or bike if you plan to get around. There are car ferries from the mainland, and many car hire places in town, though prices vary. Although all travel operators are against motorcycle hire, as long as you have some bike experience, renting a 100cc scooter for the duration of your stay can work out reasonably. Just make sure you check the bike out for previous damage before you hire it. Most of the hire places are in Argostoli and Lassi.

 * Transfer Services: You can choose a private company to prebook your airport transfers or any transfer throughout Kefalonia island.

 * Private Tours: Private Tours options on standard or fully customized routes.

See
The island consists of four peninsulas, and includes some fairly serious mountains, which all goes to make for some outstanding scenery. A series of earthquakes, the last in the 1970s mean there are relatively few relics of antiquity in the island, but architecturally it doesn't look very different from most of Greece.

Towards the centre of the island there are two noteworthy caves:

 * Fanari Road. This is a pleasant coastal walking or driving route around the coast north of Argostoli and Lassi, which takes in a few sights such as the Lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi, Katavothres waterwheel and some smaller beaches.
 * Fanari Road. This is a pleasant coastal walking or driving route around the coast north of Argostoli and Lassi, which takes in a few sights such as the Lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi, Katavothres waterwheel and some smaller beaches.
 * Fanari Road. This is a pleasant coastal walking or driving route around the coast north of Argostoli and Lassi, which takes in a few sights such as the Lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi, Katavothres waterwheel and some smaller beaches.

Beaches
Most beaches have sunbed hire, a cafe bar, and sometimes water sport activities at the livelier beaches. Some of the beaches are suitable for | nudism as well

 * has the island's best beach bar.
 * near Sami is also stunning (blue water, white stones, mountains in a circle around the small bay) but has a permanent traffic jam around it. The beach was featured in the Corelli film.
 * is small, isolated and usually quiet.
 * - The jetty in the film of Corelli, where Mandras throws Pelagia into the sea.
 * is a lovely shallow beach between Anno Katelios and Skala, where you may see a turtle!
 * is an impressive stretch of sand and a nesting site for the loggerhead sea turtle.
 * in Lassi, not far from Argostoli, are two stunning beaches, but predictably busy.
 * , in the west, is the first choice and has been repeatedly voted one of the best beaches of the world. It is popular and therefore can be busy. This beach has a very steep shore break (you are out of your depth about 10ft out!) so it is not recommended for non-swimmers. Also take plenty of suncream, as the beach is made up of white stones, and in high summer can be blindingly hot.
 * , on the Lixouri peninsula is a wonder of nature and resembles Myrtos.
 * , south of Lixouri, is a lovely sandy beach and always seems to have space and peace.
 * Vouti is quiet and has a very decent refreshment canteen.

Buy
Local honey - be sure to buy Kefalonian wild thyme honey (it really does taste special) and the local wine, Robola.

There are any number of tacky gifts to be had, though to be fair most of the tourist shops have remained reasonably tasteful and low-key. Souvenirs are aplenty as you'd expect. Some of the jewelry is of reasonable quality and price - you are unlikely to get ripped off in Kefalonia and the Greeks are generally keen to see you get what you pay for in any transaction.

Eat
One local speciality is Kefalonian meat pie, available in quite a few restaurants. It's a hearty farmhouse dish rather than haute cuisine. Getting a really good example is not easy, however - the Captain's Table in Argostoli is perhaps your best bet for this local dish. Food in most establishments is okay rather than spectacular, with traditional Greek dishes as well as menus catering to Italian and British tourists. It's worth tapping into local knowledge about where to eat.

If you're in Argostoli, visit the big bakery on the main street opposite the harbour and buy the little round cheese pies - they're fantastic.

There is a lovely cafe/restaurant at the entrance to the Venetian fortress in Kastro, shaded by trees, with very friendly owners - a Greek man married to an Englishwoman (Nicki). Their homemade cakes are delicious.

Visit the lovely Dionysos tavern in Poros, with a spectacular view to the island of Ithaca and the marina. There you may find one of the most mouth-watering meat pies (kreatopita) in the island, as it is prepared according to a traditional Kefallonian recipe (with up to three different types of meat). Additionally, slightly exotic scenes in Dionysos are the squids that slowly dry while hanging under the sun, waiting to be fried. Nonetheless, the specialty of the restaurant is mousakas, a small bite of which leaves a mouthful of flavours.

Drink
Popular drinks are:
 * Frappe - instant ice coffee. Drunk by everyone, cheap and refreshing, a "ticket" to sit outside a cafe for hours, like the Greeks do.
 * Freddo Cappuccino - an iced cappuccino. Also drunk by everyone and stronger than a Frappe and easier on the stomach.
 * Ouzo - Greek anise-flavoured liqueur.
 * Mythos - good Greek lager, very swiggable after a long day in the sun and usually quite reasonable.

Lassi
Lassi has a number of bars along the main road, many of which have 'happy hour' promotions in the evening.

Sleep
There are relatively few hotels, most accommodation is in apartments, the majority of which are block booked by the tour operators. However it isn't too hard to find rooms to rent. Kefalonia isn't a night life island but Lassi in particular can be a bit noisy at night due to the open air bars. Most of Europe closes down during high summer and heads south. Consequently July/August tend to be very busy (especially with Italian camper vans!). September is a lot quieter, although this is also the time when the rains can start. See the city articles for accommodations in Fiskardo or Skala.

Connect
Free wifi is provided in many apartments and bars.

Stay safe
Kefalonia has very little crime, although be careful in busy areas as most petty crime is the cause of tourists. Traffic, as everywhere in Greece, can be a little mad in towns. Out in the hills, the roads wind precariously around the sides of mountains. Some are passable only with a good four-wheel drive vehicle, though the main routes are fine.

Watch uneven pavements in dimly lit streets.

The local police have a very low key presence and generally confine themselves to issuing speeding tickets and being suspicious of Albanians. You'll need a rep or interpreter if dealing with them for an insurance claim.

Mosquitoes are a minor issue in inland accommodation, less so by the beaches.

Go next
There are plenty of ferry connections to the mainland and the other Ionian islands (Corfu, Zante, etc.) and Italy, though Kefalonia isn't really on the traditional island hopping route. There are air services to Athens.

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Keflavík

Keflavík (pronounce it "kep-la-vik") is a town in Southwest Iceland that is home to the country's international airport. The population is approximately 13,000.

By bus
Bus 55 takes you to Keflavík from BSÍ in Reykjavík, and towns along the route like Kópavogur and Hafnarfjörður. There are a few buses in the morning, afternoon and early evening. Buses in the late morning and late evening requires a transfer in Hafnarfjörður. See the route planner on the website of the Reykjavík area public bus service Strætó for exact schedules and route.

See

Whale watching tours leave from the harbor. These tours generally last about 3 hours and see dolphins, orca, minke and humpback whales. There is also a festival of lights in late August. Numerous walking paths lead out from town, including a stone path along the water that meanders several miles past seabirds to the lighthouse on the point.

Sleep
There is a selection of hotels.

Go next

 * Blue Lagoon
 * Most people landing at KEF are headed towards Reykjavik

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Keighley

Keighley (pronounced "keeth-lee") is a town in the English county of West Yorkshire, north west of Bradford in the Aire Valley.

By train
is on the Aire Valley railway line, with trains every 30 min east via Shipley to Leeds and Bradford, and west to Skipton. Less frequent trains continue west through the moors to Carnforth, Lancaster, Morecambe, Appleby and Carlisle.

Do

 * Rugby: Keighley Cougars were relegated in 2023, so they now play rugby league (13-a-side) in League One, the third tier; the playing season is Feb-Sept. Their home ground Cougar Park (capacity 7800) is along A650 half a mile north of the railway station.

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Kei Islands

Kei Islands are in Maluku province, Indonesia. Islands in the group include Kei Besar Island, Kei Kecil Island, Kei Tanimbar Island.

Understand
The Kei Islands, located in South-Eastern Maluku, has a beach on Kei Kecil Island called Pasir Panjang, that is to die for. Note that there are only few accommodations, and they tend to be a little bit more expensive than in other islands. Book in advance if you want accommodation on the beach, specially Coasters and Savana.

Settlements Langgur and Tual are very close, Langgur being on Pulau Kecil, and Tual being on Pulau Dulah, and the two cities are separated by a bridge. Langgur is more residential and quiet, but Pelni pier and office are in Tual.

By plane
The airport is in the middle of Kei Kecil - meaning it's relatively far from any place. Expect to pay Rp50,000 for an ojek (motorcycle taxi) to go downtown at Langgur.

Get around
There are bemo going on most roads, and most motorbikes would offer ojek (motorcycle taxi).

Do
Renting a motorbike to ride around the island can be very nice. Expect to pay Rp70,000-100,000/day (Jan 2017) without fuel. Laze the days away while snorkeling, getting massages and sunbathing on the beach, fishing, going for long walks on the beach, or going for something a little more adventurous. You can explore caves, visit offshore islands, learn Maluku traditional cooking, and take painting courses.

Eat
Visit some restaurants warung or rumah makan that have local Kei cuisine. Try Lat, a type of Kei edible seaweed salad. Also Pisang embal, a banana fritter using embal (tapioca or cassava starch) in its batter. It is served with sambal. You may eat pisang embal at Ngurbloat beach.

Connect
The telephone area code on Kei Islands is 0916.

Go next

 * Dobo — The capital of Kepulauan Aru Regency.
 * Moa Island — A beautiful island in Letti Islands of Maluku Barat Daya Regency.
 * Saumlaki — The capital of Kepulauan Tanimbar Regency, also known for tanimbar ikat woven.

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Kei Mouth

The seaside village of Kei Mouth is located on the Eastern Cape Wild Coast of South Africa and is about 90 km east of East London. Kei Mouth is situated on the south bank of the Kei River, beyond which, lies the rural former homeland of the Transkei. The subtropical climate, unpolluted beaches and warm waters of the Indian Ocean make Kei Mouth ideal for bathers, surfers and sunbathers throughout the year.

Get in
Kei Mouth is about 90 km away (a 1-hour drive) from East London and is accessible by a tar road. There are several shuttle services that pick up in East London and from the airport, and some accommodation establishments will pick you up by arrangement for a small fee.

Get around
There are no buses or taxis in Kei Mouth, but mini bus taxis are available. The village is quite small and most shops, restaurants, bars & the beach are within walking distance.

See
Kei Mouth is the start of the legendary Strandloper Trail, which passes through Morgan's Bay and Haga Haga and terminates at Gonubie. For shorter walks, there are of course the beaches, and walks to the viewing platforms on Signal Hill and down Lover's Lane.

One of South Africa's two remaining car pontoons operates in Kei Mouth. Vehicles and passengers are ferried across the Kei River to the Transkei (Wild Coast). From here you can head for the wreck of The Jacaranda, which has been high and dry on the beach since 1971. It's about an hour's beach walk from the Trennery's Hotel, which has a map at reception for 4x4 enthusiasts, complete with GPS co-ordinates showing you how get there.

Do
Kei Mouth is exceptionally popular with anglers; there are excellent fishing grounds both at the coast and in the Kei River, which is navigable for several kilometers upstream. Deep sea fisherman can launch from the mouth of the Kei River. Activities in the Kei Mouth area include river cruises, golf, fly fishing, deep-sea fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, hiking and nature trails, rock climbing, abseiling, surfing, canoeing, microlighting, game viewing and bird watching.

Go next
The beautiful seaside village of Morgan's Bay and its famous cliffs is 7 km away, 4 km beyond that lies the pristine Double Mouth Nature Reserve and the aptly named Bead beach, site of a 16th-century Portuguese shipwreck, it's the perfect place to do a little treasure hunting for Ming porcelain and Carnelian beads.

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Kelabit Highlands

The Kelabit Highlands is a highland plateau in the interior of Sarawak in Malaysia. The isolated region bordering Kalimantan, Indonesia, is now very popular for jungle trekking and for those hoping to get away from it all.

Understand
The Kelabit Highlands comprise a vast highland plateau in the interior of Sarawak, near the border of Kalimantan, Indonesia. The area is the headwaters of the mighty Baram, Limbang, Lawas Rivers. Administratively, it comes under the Miri and Limbang Divisions.

Landscape
The Kelabit Highlands is a highland plateau of over 1,000m. It lies between the Tama Abu Range and Apo Duat Range on the Sarawak-Kalimantan border. The many valleys in the region are peppered with settlements of cottage-like homes and often surrounded by paddy fields. The area also boasts many high peaks including Sarawak's highest mountain, the 2,423m Gunung Murud.

Climate
As most of the highlands is over 1,000m, the nights can get a little chilly. Daytimes are usually warm and humid, especially when struggling through thick forests while trekking. The rainy season is between October and February.

People
The area is named after one of Sarawak's ethnic groups, the Kelabits. They are mostly highland farmers and staunchly Christian, belonging to the Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Assembly) church. They are also known to place a lot of importance in education and many hold professional jobs, including the managing director's post of Malaysia Airlines.

Although the highlands are named after the Kelabits, it is actually home to many other groups such as the Penan and Lun Bawang. The Lun Bawang, who are the same group as the Lun Dayeh in Sabah, are the predominant people around Ba Kelalan in the northern part of the highlands. All of them are collectively known as the "Orang Ulu" or "People of the Highlands".

Villages

 * Bario - The "capital" of the highlands and main entry point into the highlands
 * Ba Kelalan - The Lun Bawang village is the starting/ending point of popular two-day trek to/from Bario
 * Pa' Umor - a 50-minute walk from the airport of Bario centre. small but a good starting point for trekking or visiting cultural sites. Far more remote feeling than Bario with no power lines (which are inactive anyway).  A church, longhouse, and a few private dwellings, there are a few guesthouses here and Gem's Lodge is on the edge.
 * Pa'Lungan - Tiny, remote village with 100 inhabitants and rather untouched by modern society (use of local produce, no internet). Only reachable by foot (3-4 hour easy trek through jungle and rice fields) which can be done without a guide. The path from Bario airstrip is only partly marked so make sure you ask someone for directions (there are two or three forks). Ideal location of the beaten path to relax and start of jungle trekkings.

By plane
The most popular and simplest way of getting into the Kelabit Highlands is by plane. The highlands are dotted with little airfields, often just grass airstrips other than the main airport at Bario which is a modern tar-mac runway, these are linked by 16-seater Twin Otter planes operated by MASWings. These are 18-seater flights and locals are given preference due to it being the main transport in and out of the highlands but you can book online at MASWings website. There are sometimes problems with non-Malaysian credit cards booking on this site; best to contact your card issuer in case of problems. There are still some cancellations of flights due to bad weather but it is a fallacy that this is regular.

The most popular entry points are Bario (BBN) and Ba Kelalan (BKM). There are also air services to Long Akah (LKH), Long Banga (LBP), Long Lellang (LGL) and Long Seridan (ODN) although these other locations do not have any purpose-built infrastructure for travellers.

The main coastal city that acts as the gateway to the highlands is Miri where most flights originate. However, there are also flights from Lawas and Marudi in the Lower Baram, which is connected to Miri by several flights daily as well as a combination of boat (between Marudi and Kuala Baram) and bus (between Kuala Baram and Miri).

 * To/from Bario: 2 daily flights to and from Miri, except for Mondays when 1 flight only carries cargo. Flights are often marked as full though actually they leave half empty - the rest of the weight is taken up by pre booked cargo. You should book ahead; they are normally full about five days ahead of time.  Flights back from Bario have no cargo, and so you shouldn't need to book too far ahead; you could even do this once you have arrived.  If you have a pre booked flight you should reconfirm it when you arrive; there's a RM10 charge for this.  Tickets cost RM91 before taxes and surcharges. Journey time is about 50 minutes. Six of these weekly flights (no flights on Thursday) are via Marudi.
 * To/from Ba Kelalan: Flights between Lawas and Ba Kelalan run on Monday and Saturday. RM46 one-way before taxes and surcharges. Flights take about 35 minutes.
 * To/from other villages: Flights operate between Miri and Marudi and the various "Longhouses" in the highlands once or twice a week.

Over land
Getting to the Highlands by land is hard work, especially when compared with flying.

The easiest and fastest way is by four-wheel drive or trucks between Lawas and Ba Kelalan. The journey, which takes about four or five hours, is over old logging roads and you are virtually guaranteed a bumpy ride as well as the possibility of being bogged in mud during the rainy season.
 * To/from the Sarawak coast

The labyrinth of trails fanning out from Bario and the nearby villages can possibly lead you to the lowlands. Besides walking, you may have to take boats to travel down river. The journey will take several days of tough walking. Guides will be necessary and costs may be high for boats. Not surprisingly, most, including the locals, turn to planes.

It is possible to enter/leave Indonesia via the Kelabit Highlands. In fact, the trek between Bario and Ba Kelalan goes through Indonesian territory and the village of Long Bawan is within easy reach. There are immigration officers in Bario and Long Bawan. From Long Bawan, there are flights to other East Kalimantan cities.
 * To/from Kalimantan, Indonesia

Long Bawan is not a visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry point (see Indonesia's Get in section) and an Indonesian visa must be obtained before you cross the border. However, the visa requirement is waived if you are just trekking between Bario and Bakelalan. However, you must carry your passport.

There is now a logging road from Miri to the Bario area which is mainly suitable for supplies and vehicles to be brought into Bario, but this is an option for travelling although you will need to know locals as this is privately used only.

Fees and permits
Permits were once required but are now not necessary. But make sure to bring your passport if you intend to trek through Indonesian territory, such as on the trek from Bario to Ba Kelalan.

On foot
The usual way to get from one village or longhouse to another is on foot. Some of the usual walking trails linking the various settlements are now doubling up as hiking trails by visitors. See the "Do" section below for details on the more popular hiking trails.

A few vehicles, mostly trucks and motorcycles have made their appearance in the highlands and you can try thumbing a lift from the friendly locals. These are generally used around the "urban centre" of Bario.

By air
If slogging through steep slopes between Bario and Bakelalan does not sound attractive to you, MASWings flies between the two settlements on Thursdays (departing Bario at 09:55, returning from Bakelalan at 10:30). Journey time is about 20 minutes and the fare is RM23 plus taxes and surcharges.

Although several of the other settlements in the highlands have working airfields, there are no flights between them or with either Bario or Ba Kelalan. Flights are to Miri and Marudi.

Hiking
This is probably the main reason why travellers make their way to the highlands. The hikes range from lazy strolls which last a couple of hours to tough treks which require several days.

Day treks
The following list shows the more popular walks that you can complete within a day, and which do not usually require a guide, just a crude map when you set out.

 * Bario-Pa Umor: (Difficulty 1/10) Around 50 minutes at a fast pace but many people take this scenic walk to Gem's Lodge homestay and walk slowly with a camera in hand for the views, orchids and various flora and fauna along the way in which case this can be a relaxing 1-3 hr walk.
 * Pa' Umor - Pa' Umor Salt Spring: (Difficulty 4/10) About 50mins+
 * Pa' Umor - Pa' Umor Monolith:
 * Bario-Pa Lungan: (Difficulty 1/10) 2-3 hours
 * Bario - Ulong Pallang: (Difficulty 1/10) Through the padi fields, past monoliths and the 2 schools, churches, the police station. A very nice, easy walk.

Multi-day treks
There are many tracks which criss-cross the highlands, and even the most well-trodden paths (for instance, the popular Bario Loop, also known as Kelapang Loop) require a guide.

A good guide will talk to you about where you would like to go. Note that with a couple of day hike exceptions you cannot follow these trails on your own. The trails that you follow tend to connect different local villages, and there are many branches and tracks crossing, none of which are marked. Various stories abound, including a Swedish girl who had walked the trail 12 times with a guide, tried it alone the 13th time and mistakenly took the trail to Indonesia and got lost for four days. And the Belgian guy who at one of the branches took the wrong fork (the bigger path) and was found three days later suffering from dehydration. He had to be airlifted to hospital in Miri. Get a guide!

There's a guide licensing system in Bario - the guides are licensed by the Sarawak Government as wildlife guides. The licensed ones we had dealings with seemed great and to know the surroundings very well. They also have insurance should anything untoward happen.

The price for a guide (as of September 2010) is RM80 per guide per day for day treks, overnight camping will cost RM100 per night. A RM10 per day tip is appropriate if you feel the guide has done a good job. If you'd like them to provide food & cook for you, it's RM25 per person per day. This is highly recommended as is bringing provisions they will collect food from the jungle for you to eat in the evenings (mushrooms, sago palm hearts, etc.) These are fixed prices set by the guides' association. Attempts to bargain will not be appreciated! Expeditions to Gunung Murud and Butu Lawi require two guides for security reasons.

A recommended guide is Irwan. He is very knowledgeable about the jungle, has a good knowledge of English and is a very entertaining person. Contact him at welliamirwanshah@gmail.com for bookings.

There are then two types of guide you should avoid:
 * Unlicensed guides from Bario, who will probably not know the area well. They appear to cost the same as a licensed guide
 * Guides provided by travel agencies in Miri. These tend to be city guides who will not know the trails at all. While we were there some hunters met a city guide with tourist who had been lost for two days and had run out of food! They pointed them in the right direction and gave them some food. Licensed guides would both be able to feed you from the jungle and know the way home! It's recommended not to book through a travel agency in Miri - it will be much more expensive and you will not be able to ensure your guide is licensed.

A popular multi day trek is:
 * Bario-Ba Kelalan: (Difficulty 3/10) 4 days hiking 3-8 hours per day. The trek from Bario will pass through Pa Lungan (4hrs), then you will head over to a Kalimantan village such as Long Medang or Tanjung Karya (~8-9 hr) and continue to Long Bawan (4-5 hr), before crossing the border to Ba'Kelalan (~6 hr walking or 1.5-hr motor bike (RM80)). The trek passes through a long stretch of primary forest but includes dirt tracks as well. People are very friendly (you will shake a lot of hands) but hardly speak English in Kalimantan, Malaysian ringgit are accepted. Accommodation will mostly likely be a homestay (RM50). You have to report to the Immigration office in Long Bawan (your guide will arrange that for you).

Mountain climbing

 * Gunung Murud: Sarawak's highest peak at 2,423m.
 * Batu Lawi: A spectacular 2,043m mountain with the famous twin peak Pinnacles. A model of which can be seen outside the Bario airport arrivals area.

Festivals
The Bario Food Festival is a unique three-day event that celebrates the cultural and culinary heritage and traditions of the Kelabits. It has been organised on the last weekend of July every year since 2005, and is an annual highlight in the highland's festive calendar. At the festival, visitors can experience Kelabit food and cultural exhibitions. A huge portion of the Kelabit diet is greens and game plucked from the jungles. Grubs and river crabs, snakes and wild boar are also available for the tasting. For those with less appetite for meat, the green offerings are no less exotic - visitors can find greens that are not available in your regular supermarket, or any market for that matter. Beside the culinary treats, visitors are also treated to a wide medley of cultural shows, including traditional dances, handicraft demonstration and traditional games. Guests are encouraged to take part in all of the events. This event is community-run, and every village gets involved in preparing and putting together a good show.

Eat
There are not many restaurants in the Kelabit Highlands since food is usually included in the price for accommodation. The food is very different from what you get in other parts of Malaysia. It's usually made of ingredients from the jungle plus a few locally farmed ingredients.

Bario rice is different from other rice types for its shorter seeds. Outside of Bario it is quite expensive. Also famous are the pineapples you get here. You can find them in curries or desserts.

Ingredients from the jungle include wild boar, deer or for vegetarians wild ginger flower, edible fern and many more.

Camping
You can arrange camping out in the jungle as part of a multi-day trek with your guide.

Contact Gems Lodge at gems_lodge@yahoo.com to ask about local overnight camping.

Backcountry
As part of a multi-day trek you can stay either in rough huts where you'll need to bring your own food, or in longhouses where they will provide lodging, dinner & breakfast for RM40-60 per night (as of March 2012). It is well worthwhile taking your own sleeping bag, light hammock, leech socks, torch and candles if you do intend to do a multi-day trek as it is not always possible to stay in a longhouse every night of the trek.

Stay safe
Check with the Sarawak health department for incidences of malaria outbreak, although there has never been any history of any person contracting malaria in the Highlands.

title: Kelabit Highlands


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Kelantan

Kelantan is a state in the north-east of Peninsular Malaysia with a unique local culture, a dialect that's highly divergent from other forms of Malay and a delicious cuisine very different from the West Coast styles more commonly available outside the area.

Regions
Kelantan's official Arabic-language nickname, Darul Naim, means "Land of Lightning" — perhaps a reference to the possible derivation of the state's name from kilatan, a form of the Malay word for lightning. This state has 10 districts: Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Kuala Krai, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, and Gua Musang.

Cities

 * - the state capital, and focal point for Kelantan's administration and business activities
 * - main border crossing into Thailand, also popular for shopping
 * - near the border with Terengganu, famous for waterfalls and beach (Pasir Puteh is Malay for "White Sand")
 * - main border crossing into Thailand, also popular for shopping
 * - near the border with Terengganu, famous for waterfalls and beach (Pasir Puteh is Malay for "White Sand")
 * - near the border with Terengganu, famous for waterfalls and beach (Pasir Puteh is Malay for "White Sand")

Other destinations

 * Stong Hill - one of Kelantan's highland destinations; Jelawang Falls, beautiful sunrise and eco-tourism are some of the attractions here
 * Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Moonlight Beach) - one of Kelantan's popular beaches
 * Lata Rek - A famous water rapid and waterfall. ("Lata" means water rapids)
 * Central Market (Pasar Siti Khadijah)
 * Kuala Koh National Park (the northern entrance of Taman Negara)
 * Pengkalan Datu Floating Market (Pasar Tani Terapung Pengkalan Datu) is the only floating market in Malaysia.

Understand
Kelantan is the most deeply conservative of all the Malaysian states and has with just one interruption been governed by the opposition Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam SeMalaysia or PAS) since 1958. The party's green flag with a white full moon flutters throughout the state. Highways seem to have more signs with quotes from the Koran than actual traffic instructions; many signs are written in Jawi, the old Arabic script for Malay; and even some Chinese women wear head scarves here. Cinemas are banned in the state, while shops and supermarkets have separate queues for men and women.

Whilst Malays make up 95% of the population of 2.4 million and there is also the usual smattering of Chinese and Indians in the cities plus Orang Asli (aboriginal people) in the interior. Kelantan is also home to the Orang Siam, a group of 7,000-8,000 Buddhist Thais. The Thais have lived in Kelantan for centuries. The Chinese community is also regarded as one of the most assimilated in Malaysia, and they are often seen wearing traditional Malay clothing and celebrating Muslim festivals despite being mostly Buddhist.

One strong point that differentiates Kelantan from the rest of Malaysian states is the way that the Kelantanese categorise people based on their place of origin rather than the color of the skin. All Kelantanese are considered as Oghe Kito (Our People or Orang Kita in standard Malay) no matter which race or religion they belong to. This sometimes gives the wrong impression to the non-Kelantanese Malaysians, to whom the term Orang Kita usually refers to people of the same race.

Talk
The Kelantanese dialect of Malay is famously incomprehensible to outsiders, so much so that Kelantanese and non-Kelantanese alike jokingly refer to it as German (pronounced gher-man with a hard G, but yes, it means German). In baso Kelate, as bahasa Kelantan is known here, syllables slur together and vowels shift: standard Malay apa ("what?") become ggapo and binatang ("animal") becomes nnate. Nevertheless, all Kelantanese learn standard Malay in school, so locals will generally be able to converse in standard Malay if required.

The Orang Siam also speak a dialect of Thai called Tak Bai, but this is also quite different from standard Thai or even the forms generally spoken in southern Thailand. Various Chinese dialects are also spoken by the ethnic Chinese community. That said, these people are generally able to converse in Kelantanese Malay and standard Malay as well.

As for second languages, some people speak English, but do not expect everyone to be able to. And while no-one will expect you to speak Kelantanese, some knowledge of standard Malay would be very useful.

By plane
Kelantan's only airport is the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport at Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu. Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia provide flights to/from Kuala Lumpur. While people from Penang can reach Kelantan by FireFly.

By car
To/from other parts of Malaysia: Kelantan can be accessed by road via the East-West Highway which links Gerik in Perak on the west coast, and Jeli in Kelantan. Federal Route 8 connects Kota Bharu with Central Pahang via Kuala Krai and Gua Musang. You can also enter Kelantan on the East Coast main road (Federal Route 3) which runs from Johor Bahru in the south to Kota Bharu via the eastern part of Pahang and Terengganu. Use this road if you are heading to the Perhentian Islands.

To/from Thailand: Road users can enter Kelantan from the southern Thai province of Narathiwat at Rantau Panjang (across the Golok River from the Thai town of Sungai Kolok), and across the Golok River on the newly completed bridge at Bukit Bunga, Jeli.

By bus
To/from other parts of Malaysia: Long distance express buses connect Kota Bharu with Penang via the East-West Highway, and with the other East Coast towns of Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan. See the Kota Bharu page for details.

A local bus runs twice daily between Gua Musang in Kelantan and Kuala Lipis in Pahang, where there are connections to Jerantut for Taman Negara. Buses depart Gua Musang at 10:30 and 15:30 and from Kuala Lipis at 8:00 and 13:00. Local buses also run from Pasir Puteh in the eastern part of the state to Jertih and Kuala Besut (for boats to the Perhentian Islands), which lie just inside Terengganu. To Gerik in Perak, there is one trip a day via the East-West Highway, leaving Kota Baru at 6:30 and Gerik at 12:30.

To/from Thailand: There are no direct bus services into Thailand. Catch a local bus to Rantau Panjang, and cross the border to Sungai Kolok where there are bus connections to other destinations in Thailand. See the Kota Bharu page for details.

By train
Kelantan is linked to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia by the East Coast railway line, also known as the "Jungle Railway". The line starts from Tumpat in the north of the state and passes through Wakaf Baru (the nearest station to Kota Bharu), Kuala Krai and Gua Musang in the southern part of the state before it enters Pahang.

The main railway stations in Kelantan where express trains stop are:
 * Gua Musang: Tel: +60-9-9121226
 * Pasir Mas: Tel: +60-9-7909025
 * Tumpat: Tel: +60-9-7257232
 * Wakaf Bahru (for Kota Bharu): Tel: +60-9-7196986

To/From Kuala Lumpur: The sleeper Ekspres Wau links Tumpat with Kuala Lumpur daily, passing through Jerantut (for Taman Negara).

To/From Singapore and Johor Bahru: The sleeper Ekspres Timuran goes to/from Singapore daily, also stopping at Jerantut. There are slow local trains to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan where the train joins the main West Coast trunk line, and even to Singapore. In early 2007, a daily day train, the Lambaian Timur was introduced, allowing travellers to enjoy the jungles of Peninsular Malaysia as it travels through the stretch during daylight hours.

To/from Thailand:  Although there is a railway branch line running from Pasir Mas to Rantau Panjang on the Thai border, there are no passenger train services into Thailand or even to Rantau Panjang. Catch a local bus to Rantau Panjang, cross the border to Sungai Kolok where there are trains to Hat Yai and Bangkok.

For more details, check KTMB's website.

By boat
Passenger boats and vehicular ferries run across the Golok River between Pengkalan Kubur north of Kota Bharu, and Ban Taba, near Tak Bai in Narathiwat Province in southern Thailand. See the Kota Bharu page for transportation details to Pengkalan Kubur.

Passenger boats also run between the Bukit Bunga immigration checkpoint near Jeli in the western part of the state, and Buketa in Narathiwat Province.

A bridge across the Golok River at Bukit Bunga is already completed.

By car
Good roads link the main towns of Kelantan.

By bus
Bus transport in the state is handled by Syarikat Kenderaan Melayu Kelantan (SKMK), a subsidiary of the Transnasional Group. Local buses link Kota Bharu with all main towns in Kelantan.

By train
Express trains (Ekspres Wau and Ekspres Timuran) make stops at major Kelantan stations, namely Tumpat (the terminus) Wakaf Baru (for Kota Bharu), Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, Dabong (for Bukit Stong waterfall), Kuala Krai and Gua Musang. Local trains stop at almost every station and halt on the East Coast line and constitute a major mode of transport for locals living in the interior of the state.

Check the KTMB website for more details.

See
The tallest standing Buddha statue in South-East Asia (108 feet high) was opened to the public in June 2009, at Wat Phothikyan in Kampung Balai, a small village 35 minutes from Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

The temple wall is adorned with a pair of dragon carvings. As you walk in between the two dragon heads at the entrance, you are greeted by a T-Rex statue on your right. But the majestic Buddha statue in gleaming white mosaic tiles really takes your breath away.

Do

 * Visit Pasar Buloh Kubu, the wet market where women rule.
 * Go to Pantai Cahaya Bulan and stay in the chalet there.
 * Walk around Kota Bharu and try ayam percik. You will love it.
 * Go to Tok Bali and see the fishermen with their catch, especially at midnight

Buy
Kelantan is famous for its Malay arts and handicrafts (mainly batik). The state's most instantly recognizable symbol is the wau bulan ("moon kite"), which has been adopted by Malaysian Airlines as its logo.

Some things to buy:

 * Songket - Silk cloth woven with gold or silver threads. The Songket Bazaar is in Kampung Penambang, north of Kota Bharu.
 * Batik - Printed cloth with very colourful pattern and motifs.
 * Silver - Silverware, jewelry and brooches in the form of Wau Bulan (moon kite) or Wau Kuching (cat kite).
 * Keropok - Fish crackers are available in raw or ready-to-eat packaging.
 * Woodcarving - Handicrafts made from wood; e.g., a pair of decorative fork and spoon.
 * Wayang kulit (shadow play) puppets - Characters from famous Hindu epics.
 * Local souvenirs can be found at Bamboo Fort Bazaar in Kota Bharu.
 * Fake goods (usually made in Thailand) can be found at Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubur. Set aside those fake goods, these two places are shoppers' havens since they are duty-free zones.

Eat
Kelantanese cuisine has several specialities rarely seen elsewhere in Malaysia, and most Kelantanese people are very serious about their food. Eating out provides for plenty of options and is much cheaper here than the (often not-so-authentic) other versions of Kelantanese food found in Kuala Lumpur. The dominant themes are the heavy use of kerabu, a catch-all term covering various herbs and vegetables and often served as an accompaniment to dishes, and the multiple uses found for coconut, which can be found in almost every dish. Due to its close proximity to the Thai border, Thai food is also widely available; there are also many dishes that are distinct mixtures of Malay Kelantanese and Southern Thai cuisine.

Some specialties worth looking out for include:

 * ayam percik - spicy grilled chicken with coconut milk/peanut sauce and distinctive local fresh herbs
 * laksam Kelantan - the local version of the ubiquitous noodle soup, here served with herbs, rolled-up flat white noodles and a rich white fish and coconut gravy
 * nasi dagang Kelantan - a mix of white and brown glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk, mild-tasting in itself but served with lots of tasty curries. Another version of nasi dagang is found in neighboring Terengganu, which uses white glutinous rice and a slightly different gravy.
 * nasi kerabu - spiced yellow rice akin to the Indonesian nasi kuning, served with a vast assortment of fresh herbs and fried coconut. Note that in most of the rest of the country, nasi kerabu means rice that has been dyed a shocking shade of blue! However, the authentic Kelantanese version of nasi kerabu is colored blue from the use of a wild flower, and not food coloring. It is served with slightly sweetened "budu", a condiment made of fermented anchovies that is a staple of Kelantanese cuisine. The unadulterated version of "budu" is very salty and used to dip herbs and raw vegetables and eaten with rice. Like the famous durian, the taste is acquired and the smell is often overwhelming.
 * nasi tumpang - rice rolled up in a banana leaf so it resembles an ice-cream cone shape, with omelette, curry and meat floss packed inside.

Popular desserts and snacks include akok (steamed egg-based mini cakes), bahulu (cakes), "serimuka" (a steamed dessert made from two layers of glutinous rice and pandan-flavored egg custard) and keropok ikan (fish cracker). Certainly there are two or three sweets for every savory dish native to Kelantan-- so you will not run out of things to try. Simply walk around the food section in Pasar Siti Khadijah and you will feast your eyes on various colorful sweet treats. A note of caution though: Kelantanese people are well known for their sweet tooth and even the savory dishes also tend to be cooked on the sweeter side!

Drink
Fresh coconut is RM3.

A fermented version of coconut milk is called "tuak", and it is usually sour. Dare to try.

Stay safe
Kelantan is generally safe, and people are generally friendly.

Respect
More than anywhere else in Malaysia, in Kelantan it's important to respect local mores, especially if you head out into the countryside. It is not necessary or expected for non-Muslim women to wear a headscarf (though it would certainly meet with approval), but both men and women should wear clothing that covers all or at least most of their legs (no short shorts), and women should wear blouses or dresses which cover their torso. Long sleeves are preferable for women, and outfits which show the shoulders or midriff should be avoided. The watchword is modesty. Tourists dressed in shorts and skimpy tops are really out of place in this state.

But regardless of how modestly you dress, if you're white, people may stare at you. If that happens, just smile.

Go next

 * Perhentian Islands (Terengganu)
 * Taman Negara (Pahang) - Malaysia National Park, world's oldest rainforest

title: Kelantan


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Kelleys Island

Kelleys Island is an island and with a small village on its southern shore in Erie County, Ohio. The entire island has been designated a National Historic District. It is home to about 300 people (2019), and has several beaches for swimming.

Understand
The island is sparsely-populated, with a small village on the south side of the island, residential areas on the east side, a limestone quarry on the west side, and a State Park on the north side.

Ferries from the mainland dock at the village several times/day during prime tourist season. This season lasts from late spring to early fall. Visiting in the winter is difficult as the lake freezes over and becomes impassible. Off season travel should only be attempted if you secured lodging in advance and are solely interested in the winter scenes on the island, as nearly any lodging, restaurants, attractions, or businesses in general will be closed.

History
During the Ice Age, receding glaciers carved glacier grooves across the island. Kelleys Island was first inhabited by the Native Americans, creating Inscription rock on the southern shore sometime during the 1640s.

By the early 1800s, the first white settlers arrived, but were unable to stay due to a variety of mishaps. By the 1820s the first permanent settlers established themselves. By the 1830s the first quarry opened, and by the 1840s the first winery opened on the island. The use of the island stone destroyed most of the vast glacial grooves, outside of a small preserved area.

Get in
Kelleys Island can be reached by ferry from Sandusky or Marblehead Peninsula, by airplane or private boat.

Get around
The island has many miles of paved roads if you ferry your car to Kelleys Island. However the island is small enough that Golf Carts are a popular way for locals to get around, and are available as rentals. Those looking to save money and take things slowly often choose to traverse the island on foot or bicycle.

See
Most of the historic sightseeing attractions on the island lie along its southern bank, or near the island center.

Do
Ohio's largest island is full of adventure for all ages. It has 600 acres of state park lands, 17 miles of coastline, beautiful wildflowers, nature trails, a fossil-filled quarry, and wetlands which are admired by nature-lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The north half of the island is far less developed than the southern shore, and is where most of the natural activities are.

Buy
Because everything must be shipped to the island, most general goods are somewhat more expensive than on the mainland, and selections are limited. There is however, a good deal of general outdoor gear branded with the island name sold at various shops, which can double as souvenirs. If you tend to pack lightly, consider at least stocking up on essentials before setting out. There is no pharmacy on the island, so plan to bring enough medicine for the duration of your trip.

Eat
Fare is hallmarked by freshwater seafood from the lake and fried side dishes. Most pubs also offer a number of sweets and desserts, as well as a salad, hummus platter, or other basic vegetarian option. Keep in mind that nearly every eatery is also a pub, so the atmosphere of each place tends to change a bit after early dinner time, though things rarely get rowdy.

Drink
Nearly every restaurant on the island doubles as a pub, serving refreshing drinks on the warm summer days of the tourist season. Several bars exist in the village, and Kelleys Island Brewery produces several varieties of ale and lager at their facility west of the village.

Connect
The south side of the island is well connected with 4G cellular service and businesses offering Wi-Fi. Outside of downtown, especially on the north side of the island, cellular signals can be poor or non existent. On the north shore you may be able to be able to intermittently connect to Canadian cell towers - Be aware that you may accidentally incur international charges depending on your provider and plan. To avoid this, as well as battery drain, consider switching your phone to airplane mode.

Stay safe
Despite its low population and remoteness, Kelleys Island still has a police department and an emergency medical service, however the island lacks a proper hospital. Undeveloped areas of the island get poor or no cellular service, making dialing 911 hard or impossible. Let someone know your travel plans if you go out alone.

When a sidewalk is available use it. Walking on the road is punished by a $100 fine from the island police.

The bedrock on Kelleys Island is very close to the surface, and often bare patches of it are exposed in parks. This rock can be slippery, especially after rain or near the lake. Always pay attention where you're stepping, especially near cliff edges.

Lake Erie is volatile and can be dangerous. Be careful while swimming, especially alone. There is no lifeguard at the public beach, and riptides do occur, so have a buddy and know how to deal with one should you find yourself caught in one.

Don't enter the abandoned buildings in the woods. Most haven't been maintained since the 1930s, and they are battered often by the temperamental weather of Lake Erie.

It is possible to walk to the island in the winter over frozen waters, but this should never be attempted. The frozen over lake is treacherous, and the ice is often not as thick as it seems. Falling through even once would mean certain death, as there will be nobody to help you warm up, even if you do manage to escape the frigid waters. When elderly locals talk about doing this back in the day, they almost always qualify it by mentioning how stupid and suicidal it was of them to even try this.

Go next

 * Cedar Point - This amusement park is visible from the south shore.
 * Sandusky - The largest nearby mainland city.
 * Marblehead - A common port for ferry rides to and from the island.
 * Cleveland - One of the largest cities on the lake.
 * Toledo - The Glass City on the southwest shore of Lake Erie

title: Kelleys Island


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Kells

Kells (Ceannas Mor) is a town in County Meath, about 65 km north of Dublin, with a population in 2022 of 6600. "Kil-" or "Kells" denotes the cell or abode of a monk, so it's a common placename, but this is the one that for 800 years housed the Book of Kells. The abbey remains are the chief reason to visit.

Get in
Kells is 25 km northwest of Dublin Airport. By road follow M3.

Kells lost its railway in 1963. Bus Éireann runs frequently from Dublin:
 * 109 from Dublin Busáras via Drumshaughlin and Navan to Kells, taking two hours, hourly daily 7AM-12:30PM. At night use the 109A.
 * 109A from Dublin Airport via Ashbourne, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin and Navan to Kells. It runs hourly 24 hours, and 12:30AM-0:30AM it starts from city centre.
 * 109X from Dublin Busáras via Glasnevin and Navan to Kells (90 min), continuing to Carnaross, Virginia and Cavan Town. It runs hourly, daily.

Bus 108 runs from Bailieborough via Mullagh and Moynalty, with 3 M-Sa, taking 30 min.

Bus 187 runs from Oldcastle via Mount Nugent, Ballyjamesduff and Virginia, with 4 M-Sa, taking just under an hour.

For route maps and stop locations enter the route number into the TFI route mapper.

Kells doesn't have a bus station. The main stop is called on timetables, east end of Kenlis Place. Most buses continue west to the retail strip along Cavan Road R147.

Get around
Walk, the town is compact.

Taxis in town are Lynch Taxis, John's Cabs +353 46 924 9353 and Kells Taxi Cabs.

See

 * has a walled graveyard on the site of an old monastery, with three High Crosses from the 9th century, plus a fourth cooling its heels in the river. They're specifically termon crosses, marking the boundaries of the inner sanctum; fairly plain but the bosky riverside setting is attractive. The ruined church has an Ogham stone, dedicated to "Cuana son of the people of Luigni", an 8th-century tribe hereabouts. On the main road by the turn-off, a little shrine marks St Ciaran's Well. There have been multiple Keerans or Ciarans but this one was Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, died 770.
 * on R163 east of town is a fine Georgian multi-arched bridge. It was built in the late 18th century to grace the approach to Headfort House, which is now a school and you can't tour.
 * has a walled graveyard on the site of an old monastery, with three High Crosses from the 9th century, plus a fourth cooling its heels in the river. They're specifically termon crosses, marking the boundaries of the inner sanctum; fairly plain but the bosky riverside setting is attractive. The ruined church has an Ogham stone, dedicated to "Cuana son of the people of Luigni", an 8th-century tribe hereabouts. On the main road by the turn-off, a little shrine marks St Ciaran's Well. There have been multiple Keerans or Ciarans but this one was Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, died 770.
 * on R163 east of town is a fine Georgian multi-arched bridge. It was built in the late 18th century to grace the approach to Headfort House, which is now a school and you can't tour.
 * has a walled graveyard on the site of an old monastery, with three High Crosses from the 9th century, plus a fourth cooling its heels in the river. They're specifically termon crosses, marking the boundaries of the inner sanctum; fairly plain but the bosky riverside setting is attractive. The ruined church has an Ogham stone, dedicated to "Cuana son of the people of Luigni", an 8th-century tribe hereabouts. On the main road by the turn-off, a little shrine marks St Ciaran's Well. There have been multiple Keerans or Ciarans but this one was Ciarán the Pious of Bealach-duin, died 770.
 * on R163 east of town is a fine Georgian multi-arched bridge. It was built in the late 18th century to grace the approach to Headfort House, which is now a school and you can't tour.

Do

 * Club Active on Church Lane has a gym with fitness classes. Minimum membership is one month.
 * 1 km east of town has two 18-hole courses.
 * 1 km east of town has two 18-hole courses.

Buy

 * The retail strip is along Cavan Rd R147 leading northwest, with Supervalu after 200 m (M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 9AM-8PM) and Aldi further along (M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM).

Eat

 * Vanilla Pod is within Headfort Arms Hotel, see Sleep; it gets good reviews for quality and selection. It's open M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM, Su 12:30-9:30PM.
 * Vanilla Pod is within Headfort Arms Hotel, see Sleep; it gets good reviews for quality and selection. It's open M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM, Su 12:30-9:30PM.

Drink

 * Cross St into Farrell St is the main pub strip, with Smith's, The Chaser, McGee's, The Sheeney, O'Connor's, Blackwater Inn and The West Way. JJ Maguire and The Carrick House are a little way west.

Sleep

 * Farrelly's Townhouse at 2 John St was renovated in 2021. Double (room only) €80.
 * Farrelly's Townhouse at 2 John St was renovated in 2021. Double (room only) €80.

Connect
As of April 2021, Kells has 5G from Eir and Three, and 4G from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park towards Drogheda is a collection of astronomically-aligned megaliths dating back to 3200 BC.
 * Oldcastle is surrounded by prehistoric sites, the best being Loughcrew Cairns.
 * Cavan Town to the north is in the drumlin country, with islet-studded lakes.

title: Kells


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Kelowna

Kelowna is a city in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Kelowna is the largest inland city in British Columbia, in the heart of BC's wine country. Okanagan Lake is the main draw in the summer.

Understand
Kelowna is the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley with a population of about 142,000 in the city, and 215,000 in the metropolitan area (2020). During the summer, Okanagan Lake is the main draw, this 135 km jewel is a big draw for boaters (power and sail), swimmers and kite-boarders; in addition, golf, hiking and biking are popular summer activities. In winter thousands of tourists come from all parts of the world to ski at Big White resort, which is from the city.

Kelowna produces wines that have received international recognition. Vineyards are common around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries. Tourists also come in the Sep-Nov (mostly) to experience and taste the Okanagan's world-class wines from wineries throughout the valley.

Climate
Kelowna is classified as a humid continental climate or an inland oceanic climate, with dry, hot, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters, and four seasons. Summers in Kelowna are hot (sometimes extremely hot) and sunny. Not unusually, heat waves occur in July, August, and even June and September on occasion, where temperatures above 30 C persist for weeks. During summer, clear, dry air allows night-time temperatures to fall rapidly. Kelowna has the second mildest winter of any non-coastal city in Canada, after neighboring Penticton, caused by the moderating effects of Okanagan Lake combined with mountains separating most of BC from the prairies. Weather conditions during December and January are characterized by persistent valley cloud as Okanagan Lake hardly ever freezes.

By car
Highway 97 is the major highway through Kelowna, with Vernon and Highway 1 to the north, Penticton and Highway 3 to the south, and Merritt (via the Okanagan Connector, a.k.a. Highway 97C) to the west. Highway 33 provides secondary access to points south and east. It's a 4-5 hour drive from Vancouver via the Okanagan Connector, and 8-9 hours from Calgary.

Ground transportation

 * Ebus (see below under By bus) stops at the airport terminal.
 * BC Transit (see below By public transit) bus routes 23 (limited trips northbound and southbound) and 90 (northbound trips only) have stops about 250 m west of the terminal. For far more trip options, you will need to walk 700 m west of the terminal along Airport Way to Innovation Dr (stop are on Innovation Dr just south of Airport Way), where all trips of routes 23 and 90 stop, heading northbound and southbound. For travel to and from downtown Kelowna, a transfer at UBC Okanagan (UBCO) is required. UBCO is the southern terminus for routes 23 and 90. Route 97 is the quickest bus route between UBCO and downtown Kelowna.
 * Taxis are also available (see below under By taxi).
 * Using ride hailing, only Lucky to go is authorized to service the airport.
 * Multiple car rental agencies are located at the airport.

By bus

 * Daily bus service on the following routes:
 * Between Kelowna and Vancouver with stops in Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. Travel time to Kelowna from Vancouver is 5.5 hours, from Abbotsford is 4.25 hours, and from Hope is 3 hours.
 * Kamloops and Kelowna with stops in Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Armstrong, and Vernon. Travel time to Kelowna from Kamloops is 2.5-3.25 hours (some trips do not stop between Vernon and Kamloops), from Salmon Arm is 1 hour 50 minutes, and from Vernon is 1 hour.

By train
There is no train service available to Kelowna. However, you can use the nearest train terminal in Kamloops (about 90 minutes north-west of Kelowna by car).

Get around
Traffic can be quite heavy on major roads in Kelowna during the summer months, especially at the approaches to the floating bridge. A lack of advance left turn traffic lights contributes to accidents at major intersections.

 * Kelowna has an extensive network of bike lanes. Cyclists are advised to use bike lanes (when not obstructed by parked vehicles) and intersections with caution. Cycling on local highways is not recommended. See the City of Kelowna website for a detailed map.
 * There are several boat launches along the lakeshore with parking facilities. Be prepared to queue in the summer months. As for the lake itself, it can get crowded out there, especially with small watercraft.
 * The downtown area is pedestrian-friendly, especially along the waterfront.

By public transit

 * Bus route 97 is a limited stop frequent route. It travels between the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus (UBCO) and West Kelowna with stops in Rutland and downtown Kelowna. At most hours, it is the only option to cross Okanagan Lake between Kelowna, and West Kelowna and Peachland.
 * Bus route 97 is a limited stop frequent route. It travels between the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus (UBCO) and West Kelowna with stops in Rutland and downtown Kelowna. At most hours, it is the only option to cross Okanagan Lake between Kelowna, and West Kelowna and Peachland.

Vehicle rentals

 * Budget Car Rentals
 * Enterprise Rent-a-Car
 * Avis Car Rentals
 * Discount Car and Truck Rentals
 * Hertz
 * McScoot's Motorcycle & Scooter Rentals

Downtown
The Downtown Core is easily accessible with public transit as well as taxis and bicycles, once downtown you have two major parkades to choose from if you decide to drive yourself one is of Pandosy Street (the Verve Restaurant is in the first level) or at the library by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Station, so parking shouldn't be a chore.

The rush hour (usually 4:30–6PM) can be a challenge in the downtown core as well as on the main transportation arteries: Highway 97C, Highway 33, Lakeshore Rd.

Do

 * Boating, Sailing, Seadoo-ing, Boating, and Windsurfing on Okanagan Lake.
 * Wine tasting in this significant region for vineyards and wineries. See "Drink" section for local wineries.
 * Enjoy the Athletic Centers
 * , Capital News Center).
 * Bike and hike the local mountains (Kettle Valley,, )
 * Golf on any of the many great golf courses, such as:
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Golf on any of the many great golf courses, such as:
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills

Learn

 * Engineering Management and Education (UBC Okanagan).jpg

Work
The main industry in Kelowna is tourism, with its requisite offering of service industry jobs at or slightly above minimum wage. The local ski hill Big White offers winter employment for ski/board instructors, liftees, servers, and so on. With the boom in housing, there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the construction industry.

Buy

 * (between Richter and Water Street) & the downtown area: Frock (vintage clothing), Olive & Elle (beautiful household items), Funktional
 * Rosebuds designer consignments
 * Rosebuds designer consignments
 * Rosebuds designer consignments
 * Rosebuds designer consignments

Drink
Pubs close at 1AM and clubs at 2AM.

Wineries
Wineries and wine tours have become popular things to do in Kelowna. There are over 20 wineries in Kelowna and the surrounding area, ranging from some of the biggest names in BC wine to small boutique wineries. The list below includes wineries that are in Kelowna only — several popular wineries associated with Kelowna, such as Mission Hill and Quail's Gate, are in neighbouring West Kelowna and covered there.

 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails
 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails
 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails
 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails

Sleep
If you will be staying in Kelowna between May and September, book your accommodations well in advance, especially for weekends.

Stay safe
Kelowna is a growing city and therefore has its growing pains, with these come the following recommendations; avoid Leon & Lawrence Avenues between Water and Ellis during night time. City Park at night is patrolled, however can be somewhat dodgy after hours too. Be cautious when visiting the other local parks and beaches during the evening as well as they are known for transients and illegal activity.

As long as you keep yourself aware of your surroundings, you will be fine.

In summer, the city is also prone to forest fires, having suffered large fires in 2003, 2009, and 2023. Depending on the season, there may be campfire bans or parks may be closed.

Go next

 * West Kelowna - If you're looking to round your wine experience, West Kelowna on the other side of Okanagan Lake via Hwy 97, is a good place to stop. It is home to some of the valley's best known wineries like Mission Hill, Mount Boucherie and Quail's Gate.
 * Penticton - 45-60 minutes south of Kelowna is Penticton, another popular summer vacation spot with loads to do. Hang out at a beach, float down a canal, rock climbing, walking and biking trails are all within the city. There are also many wineries in the area.
 * Peachland - A small community on the west side of Okanagan Lake between Kelowna and Penticton. The waterfront has a number of beaches while the hillside affords views of the lake and valley. There are also many walking trails along the waterfront, up the hillside and through Hardy Falls Regional Park.
 * Vernon - About 45 minutes north of Kelowna along Hwy 97, Vernon is a smaller quieter but still popular holiday destination. Highlights include the many parks that offer swimming, walking and hiking trails, a handful of wineries, and Predator Ridge, an acclaimed golf resort.
 * Big White — Ski resort and village southeast of Kelowna via Hwy 33. It lays claim to having to more ski-in ski-out accommodation than any other resort in British Columbia. Summer activities include hiking and sightseeing.

title: Kelowna


text:
Kelseyville

Kelseyville is a city in Lake County (California).

title: Kelseyville


text:
Kelso

There is more than one place called Kelso:

United Kingdom

 * Kelso (Scotland) - A town in Scotland.

United States of America

 * Kelso (California) - A tiny community located within the Mojave National Preserve in the state of California.
 * Kelso (Washington) - A town in the state of Washington.

title: Kelso