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Mutěnice Wine Region

The Mutěnice Wine Region is composed of four villages – Mutěnice, Dubňany, Ratíškovice and Milotice.

Understand
Pronunciation:

Mutěnice   - Mootyenitse  (as in a cow goes mooo) Dubňany    - Doobnyanee Ratíškovice - Ratishkovitse Milotice   - Milotitse

The region is renowned throughout the Czech Republic for its production of wine frequently taking the top prizes in the country's wine competitions. Several of the country's important wine companies are based in the region but mostly the land is owned by locals who just enjoy producing wine as a hobby. The area outside the four main towns is dotted with small settlements composed entirely of wine cellars that locals use as a weekend getaway to relax and work in their private vineyards. The locals are more than enthusiastic to share the fruits of their hard labor with just about every passing individual.

Although the wine industry is flourishing, almost no other section of the economy around Mutěnice is growing. In addition to being fertile land for wine, there was a lot of mining activity under communism, all of which came to a grinding halt during privatization. This has the left the region with an unemployment rate of almost 20%. Don't let this dissuade you from visiting though, other than some distant decaying factories visible far off on the horizon, as a visitor you'd never know the region is undergoing an economic crisis of sorts.

The region is far off the beaten tourist trail running through Prague so be prepared to practice a bit of your Czech, or at least use your phrasebook. You most likely will only encounter Czech tourists during your visit, foreign tourists are practically unknown.

Get in
By bus There are two routes you can take when traveling by bus and they will most likely determine where it is you will be spending the night.

For those coming from Prague by bus you'll need at least a whole weekend to make this trip, starting around mid day on Friday and returning in the evening on Sunday. Thursday to Sunday would probably be better though.

For those coming from Brno you could make the trip over one day.

 * Bus from Brno to Mutěnice
 * This bus leaves almost every 45 minutes from Zvonařka main bus station in Brno. The bus station is not far from the city center.  If arriving from Prague be sure and buy a ticket to Zvonařka and not the Hotel Grand bus stop.  Student Agency, the major Prague - Brno Bus operator does not run to Zvonařka.  At Zvonařka, you will want to take the bus to Hodonín which leaves from the last bust stop of the second bus lane counting from the left.  You can buy your ticket on the bus for under a 100 Kč. The ride takes about an hour but it is a very nice trip.  You want to get off at Mutěnice, which will only be indicated by the white sign at the edge of the village. About a half-hour into the trip ask someone to tell you when the bus has arrived in Mutěnice.  If you miss the stop, continue on to Hodonín (another 10 minutes) and catch one of the many buses back to Mutěnice or to Dubňany depending on your preference.

 * Bus from Prague to Dubňany
 * Every Thursday and Friday at 14:30 there is a bus from Prague directly to Dubňany. Tickets can be bought at the Florenc main bus station for 220 Kč, preferably in advance. This bus will stop in Hodonín, once you have left Hodonín ask someone on the bus to tell you when you have arrived in Dubňany.  The trip from Hodonín to Dubňany takes about 10 minutes.

By car From Brno take the motorway towards Bratislava, about 15 km before the border you will come to the Hodonín turn off. Take this, go to Hodonín and then follow a map the short distance to either Mutěnice or Dubňany.

Get around
The best way to get around is by bike. The towns are all only about 4 km apart, far enough to make walking a bit of a journey but close enough to make a bike trip short and pleasant. If you stay at the 'Penzion San Marco' in Mutěnice they have bicycles for rent. If you stay with the Chytil family pension in Dubňany they are planning on having bicycles for rent, so if you email them ahead of time they will probably be able to arrange something for you.

If you aren't afraid of a good 5km walk, either Mutěnice or Dubňany will provide you with great wine tasting opportunities, a castle and some spectacularly beautiful nature. Also, if you want to get from town to town but are feeling a bit tired after all of that wine you have been drinking it should be fairly easy to hitch hike on the small town roads.

See

 * Traditional Czech wine festivals
 * By using the contact email at either U Chytilů or Penzion San Marcos you should be able to find out when the next wine festival will occur. These are exciting events where many people dress up in the traditional Moravian clothing and dance to music played by a local brass band.  Of course lots of wine and great food is available as well.  Frequently they are held in one of the wine cellar villages allowing local wine producers to let visitors into their cellars.

 * The manor (Czech - zámek) in Milotice
 * On the northern side of Milotice there is a very large manor house (or castle) with extensive gardens that is well worth seeing. Until 30 September it is open daily, after which the opening hours change (although the gardens remain open daily).

Do
There are three really beautiful 'settlements' of wine cellars in the area.
 * Wine tasting
 * 1) One is directly in Mutěnice on the road 'Vinařská.' This one should be incredibly easy to find.
 * 2) The second is halfway between Mutěnice and Dubňany. Coming from Dubňany you will need to walk/run/bicycle down the road towards Mutěnice for about 1 km (0.6 mile), you will go past an old tall building on your right, over abandoned rail road tracks, past the lake and then follow the road as it veers to the left. Continue walking on the road through the thick forest and take the first small road to your right (perhaps 500 m (1640 feet) after passing the lake).  There will be a small industrial looking building (it's actually a chicken farm) with a large 40 km/h (25 mph) traffic sign.  Continue straight on this road another 500 m (1640 feet) and you'll come to the wine cellars and vineyards.  This area is very 'uncommercial.'  From Mutěnice, walk on the road to Dubňany look for a road to the left with the 40 km (35 miles) sign and the industrial looking chicken farm.  Once you have gotten to the cellars if you continue straight you'll come to all of the vineyards on the hills.  Its possible to go through these hills and eventually find your way back to Mutěnice.
 * 3) The last group of cellars can be found by going to the campsite near Dubňany as listed below. Continue on the road that the campsite is on about a kilometer and then take one of the dirt roads that leads off to the left. Walk down the hill about 300 m (984 feet) and then you have either found the cellars or you'll need to take some road to your right a couple of hundred meters. This group of cellars are some of the most beautiful but also the most difficult to find so you may need to ask someone.  Just make a wine drinking motion and draw a house and a cellar with you hands and if the person hasn't already invited you in to taste some wine he'll point you in the right direction.

 * Bicycle trips through the whole region
 * If you get a hold of a bike, there is one long marked cycle path that runs through the whole region that should be really easy to find (ask anybody) or just look for the big yellow signs with the picture of a bike on them.

 * Squash and/or sauna in Dubňany
 * Open everyday including weekends, the Dubňany fitness center (named Želva or 'turtle' in Czech) is an excellent place to play squash, do miniature bowling, have a beer, go to the sauna or work out. The cost for squash is 190 Kč for an hour including rental of rackets and a ball.  The community center is on the main road to Hodonín.  It is a large modern building near to the road, if you have problems finding it just ask anybody where Želva is (the Z is pronounced like the 'su' syllable of Pleasure).

 * Swimming in Dubňany
 * During the warmer months the swim park is open in Dubňany. It is within 300 m (984 feet) of the Želva fitness center, but ask anybody where it is while making swimming motions and they'll show you.

Buy
You may want to buy a bottle or two the white chardonnay from the Livi vineyards (owned by the Chytil family) as it is outstanding and according to a knowledgeable Frenchmen, on par with some of the better French wines. Home made Slivovice (plum brandy) should also not be hard to come by and well worth the 100kc for a bottle.

Eat
The pub, 'U Chytilů' in Dubňany is both splendidly decorated and serves a whole array of traditional Moravian food. You can find the restaurant at number 825 on the road to Mutěnice in Dubňany.

Penzion San Marco in Mutěnice has a small restaurant at the penzion.

All of the towns have a wealth of pubs and places to eat. You won't have to look far to find some great food.

Drink
Presumably you have come to the region to taste the wines. Anywhere you go there will be a lot of great wines but also there are some good local beers, and every different type of homemade brandy you can imagine.

When you are passing through a 'settlement' of wine cellars nothing will be for sale. The Czech government still has very heavy regulations about the production and taxation of alcohol which almost none of the weekend producers could possibly manage to comply with. The best way to try some of them is to think up any reason to stop and speak with somebody working in their vineyard or relaxing in front of their cellar. Ask for directions or something, it doesn't' matter, they will almost certainly invite you to 'ochutnat' (taste) some wine.

Almost all of the domestic wine producers do actually sell their wine but first you'll need to make friends with them (presumably by drinking their wine with them) if you want to buy some of their product.

Sleep

 *  Bivouac
 * There are lots of good places to just lay your head down next to a pond and sleep for the night. This is illegal but more than likely nobody is going to bother you.
 *  Bivouac
 * There are lots of good places to just lay your head down next to a pond and sleep for the night. This is illegal but more than likely nobody is going to bother you.
 * There are lots of good places to just lay your head down next to a pond and sleep for the night. This is illegal but more than likely nobody is going to bother you.

By bus

 * Dubňany to Prague
 * You cannot purchase tickets in advance for this bus in Prague, only in Hodonín. More than likely it will be best to catch a bus in Dubňany to Hodonín and then take a bus from there to Brno and from Brno to Prague.  This trip will take about four hours of travel.  Check the bus schedule for buses leaving from Hodonín on the Internet on the day you want to head back before setting out on the journey.

 * Mutěnice to Brno
 * The bus back to Brno picks people up at the bus stop on the main road in Mutěnice. You can check the time schedule of the bus at the stop.  The schedules can be a bit confusing to read so you may want to ask for help, but unlike Dubňany you don't necessarily need to know the exact bus time you want to return home on before you set out on your trip to Mutěnice.

Other Moravian destinations

 * Novosedly na Moravě - You will have to take a train from Hodonín to Břeclav and from there travel to Novosedly na Moravě
 * Mikulov - Similar route as for Novosedly na Moravě
 * Kyjov - You can take a bus directly from Dubňany to Kyjov

Other wine regions
Small Carpathians Wine Region

title: Mutěnice Wine Region


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Mutoroshanga Ethel Mine

Ethel Mine is a dive site near Mutoroshanga, about 120 km by road from Harare. It is a flooded asbestos quarry. With good visibility and beautiful surroundings, this is a great dive site, and probably the only dive site in Zimbabwe accessible to recreational divers.

Dangers
While use of asbestos is internationally condemned due to health risks, these risks only apply when asbestos fibres become airborne and are inhaled. In this area there is no airborne asbestos, therefore the site is likely to be safe.

As this is a rural site, there are no nearby hospitals, so it is advisable to bring a first aid kit.

This is a remote site, with no access control or any staff. When diving, ensure your vehicles and belongings are guarded by one of your party as locals often become curious as to what people are doing, and wander around, and they have been known to have light fingers. It is highly recommended that you travel with somebody who knows the area.

It's not recommended as a tourist destination.

Infrastructure
This is a very undeveloped site. At most times, the quarry is completely deserted. There is a set of concrete steps leading down to a large ledge near the water line. There is a concrete table and benches. Apart from that, there is no other infrastructure. You will need to bring all of your own equipment and full air cylinders. Equipment hire, and air and nitrox fills are available in Harare.

There are no ablution facilities, restaurant, dive shop, or any other kind of facilities here. Bring everything you need. It's unlikely that there is even a cellphone signal.

Diving
There is one training grid at 6 metres. Visibility is generally excellent, but can become poor after heavy rains. Maximum depth is 40 metres. Water is moderately warm, but with several thermoclines.

Wrecks
There are many 'wrecks' on the bottom, which include:
 * Car at 8 metres
 * Motorcycle at 12 metres
 * Cessna 150 at 18 metres
 * A bus may be introduced in future

Location
Ethel mine is located at 17° 3'55.27"S, 30°42'25.04"E

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

title: Mutoroshanga Ethel Mine


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Mutsu

Mutsu (むつ) is the only city of the Shimokita Peninsula, in Aomori, Japan.

Understand
Mutsu (pop. 65,000) is a fairly grim town of gray concrete and rusting corrugated iron with no attractions to speak of, across the bay from Aomori. However, it serves as the central transport hub of the peninsula, and you're likely to pass through on your way. Hotokegaura, Omazaki, Shiryazaki, Osorezan and Yagen Onsen are all an easy drive away. Mt. Kamafuse overlooks the city and offers a couple chair lifts in the winter and a decent hike in the summer.

Since the amalgamation of Mutsu with three neighboring towns in 2005, most of the peninsula is now within city limits, but this article covers only the town.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site, covering all areas in the merged city.

Get in
Mutsu is well connected by Shimokita standards.

By train
The JR Ominato line from Noheji (on the Tohoku main line) passes through Shimokita station (下北駅) in the southern suburbs of Mutsu.

From Tokyo station it takes roughly five hours to reach Shimokita. You will need to take three trains: The Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate to Hachinohe, the Aoimori Railway to Noheji, then the JR Ominato local to Shimokita station. This trip will make your wallet almost ¥17,000 lighter each way.

The Japan Rail Pass and JR East Rail Pass fully cover the trip, including the segment on the Aoimori Railway between Hachinohe and Noheji. Note that seats on the Hayate bullet train require a seat reservation (free with a Pass).

By bus
Buses from Mutsu's central bus terminal connect to various points in the peninsula, including Ohata (35 min, many daily), Ōma (1½ hr, 8 daily) and Mount Osore (30 min, 4 daily). No direct services to the Yagen Valley though, you'll have to connect through Ohata in time to catch the single daily bus.

There are several services daily to Aomori (3½ hr) and even occasional direct sleeper buses to Tokyo.

Get around
Local bus services provide transportation around Mutsu, but the center is small enough to walk.

See

 * The northern command of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces is located on the road to Kawauchi, at the very edge of the city. Visitors can request tours of the base, which is home to several destroyers and other vessels. (These tours are unlikely to be available in English).

Do

 * Mt. Kamafuse overlooks the city and offers a couple chair lifts in the winter and a decent hike in the summer.
 * There are a few onsen on the outskirts of Mutsu.

Eat
Central Mutsu has a number of quaint bars and restaurants.

Sleep
Mutsu has a wide selection of reasonably cheap lodgings (¥6,000 with two meals), and the tourist information office is glad to help you book.

Cope
Mutsu Tourist Office (Masakari Plaza, tel. +81 175-22-0909), near the bus terminal, is helpful and can provide basic information in English, not just for Mutsu but the entire peninsula. They will also book accommodation for you.

Go next

 * Mount Osore (Osorezan) — Japan's gateway to Hell, with boiling technicolor hot springs
 * Sai
 * Kazamaura
 * Oma
 * Higashidori
 * Yagen Valley — low-key hot springs in a near-untouched valley
 * Hakodate —
 * Yokohama
 * Rokkasho

title: Mutsu


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Muuido

Muuido (Korean: 무의도), also known as Muui Island, is a small island in South Korea. It is south of Yeongjong Island, thus very close to (even visible from) Incheon International Airport. It is served by a car ferry from the Jamjinnaru ferry terminal, which crosses the narrow channel separating the island from the mainland.

Understand
The island's name, Muui, means "dancer's dress" in Korean hanja (한자). It was the filming location of the 2003-2004 Korean soap-opera Stairway to Heaven. Muui-do is popular with casual tourists and day-trippers, who like to explore the hills and visit the beaches.

Landscape
Muuido is hilly and covered in vineyards. The shores are alternately craggy, reddish rock and soft, golden sand. On the west coast, there are two main beaches, Hanaggae Beach in the south and Silmi Beach further north. Silmi Island is a smaller uninhabited island off the northwest coast of Muuido.

Flora and fauna
Seaside, there are many shellfish; you may find endless small snails and hermit crabs and of course, ambiguous seagulls. In the wetlands, you may see egrets. Because locals live in houses with yards (contrary to small city apartments), there are many larger dogs tied up outside, all very friendly. Trees are mostly pine, and grapes are grown in small patches everywhere.

Climate
As in Seoul, Muuido experiences warm springs and rainy summers and autumns. Temperatures stay mild into October, although, being seaside, feel chilly when cool breezes pick up. Winters may be too cold to enjoy Muuido's beaches.

Get in
From Incheon International Airport's Departure terminal (3rd floor), exit at gate 5 and board bus 222 (a T-money card will work for this bus). Bus 306 also takes you to the port, but it is a 10-minute walk from this bus stop to the ferry. The 222 route is a shuttle (back and forth), so it is simple to reach the Jamjinnaru ferry terminal. This car ferry runs every 15 to 30 minutes, from 7AM to 8PM (last ferry departure: 7:45PM) and you will be able to see it shuttling between the two ports. On foot, visit the building to the right, housing ticket counters. You can walk right along the pier to the ferry, and will be directed aboard. Your tickets will be taken, as you do not need them to return. The ferry ride takes about five minutes. There are public buses at the port of arrival, servicing the entire island.

Fees and permits
The ferry to the island costs ₩3,000 each for an adult on foot, and is free to return to mainland. Normal busfare of ₩1,000 (no T-money) applies for any route. You will be charged ₩2,000 each to pass the gates onto Hanaggae Beach on foot, since it is a park (유원지, yuwonji).

Get around
Public buses access all areas of interest on Muui-do, and there are few taxis. The bus from the port of arrival does a clockwise route around the island, heading southeast, then winding back up and over to Hanaggae Beach in the west, then to Silmi Beach, then back to the ferry. If you arrive at night, there will be smaller beige vans in lieu of green buses. You can call the bus and van operators at 010-3045-4493 for pick up. From Silmi Beach to Hanaggae Beach, transfer at the ferry stop (additional fare). The main green bus takes T-Money; the vans do not.

Recreationally, there are many hiking trails, and horses (on Hanaggae Beach) and ATVs (on Silmi Beach) to rent on the beach. It is a hilly but pleasant place to bring your bicycle.

See
Hanaggae Beach is a wonderful place for a laid-back weekend vacation. The entire island is quiet but beautiful, and easy to explore. Muui-do is an ideal place to get away from Korea's noisy cities, and just relax.

Do
Down on Hanaggae Beach past the gates, there are sometimes horses to ride for ₩10,000 to the left, and ATV rentals to the right or on Silmi: ₩25,000 for 30 minutes. Further up from the water there is a small cluster of buildings resembling a shanty town, with signs boasting more seafood restaurants, and even a noraebang.

Often, an impromptu game of kick-ball will break out between ajumas and ajeossis, older Korean men and women. You will most likely meet other weigukin, foreigners living in Korea.

Bring playing cards or dice in case of rain!

Buy
Small convenience stores sell very basic camping, shellfish-harvesting and hiking gear. You will also find ramen noodles, canned goods, chips and refrigerated beer, soju and makgeolli, and ice cream bars. Most stores close before 10PM. If you arrive and it's quiet out (no other tourists staying), expect things to be closed even earlier.

On Hanaggae Beach, there is one convenience store on your right as you enter the gates and are close to the beach. Look for the picnic table outside and giant jugs of hot water for ramen. They have ramen, beer, soju, snacks, and even sandals. They do not sell cigarettes, but you can find these in one of the restaurants down the beach on the right, next door to Yung Jun's Food Court (the restaurants with patio seating).

Eat
You will be hard-pressed to find anything but seafood on the island. Restaurants can be more expensive than in the city, and serve the usual Korean staples of squid, shellfish, and even shrimp and starfish. Once summer has passed, many restaurants remain closed or vacant.

There are outdoor barbecues in front of the beach huts on Hanaggae Beach, which you may use to cook your own food, if you bring coal, grills and raw food. You may also eat a very cheap convenience-store meal on the picnic tables, next to hot water dispensers.

Drink
There are no bars on the beaches, but in true Korean style, there is cheap alcohol available in convenience stores and restaurants. Only Korean brands of beer are offered, so BYOB if you want anything else.

Sleep
On Hanaggae Beach, there are many small beach huts available to rent. Some are amongst trees and include facilities, but the rows directly on the beach come highly recommended. These are like miniature minbaks on stilts, with many windows, and heated floors much like that (온돌, ondol) in traditional Korean houses. Thus, they are comfortable in the cooler months of spring and autumn. You are provided with used pillows and yos (Korean quilt-mats) to sleep on, but may want to bring more blankets and a mattress pad or something for comfort as it's just a hard floor. These huts only measure about 2 m², and therefore sleep a maximum of four people (like sardines). One of these huts costs ₩30,000 a night, plus a ₩10,000 key deposit (refunded to you when you check out). There are many vacancies in the spring and autumn, and although the counter posts hours of 2PM for check-in, the owners are often willing to let you in earlier. Check-out is at noon. This is a popular destination for foreign EFL teachers, so it may be busier during school holidays.

Near the port of arrival, there are family pensions. Camping on the beach is also an option. Bonfires are not permitted on Hanaggae Beach.

Go next
Buses run regularly from all the beaches. The car ferry is free to board to return to Yongyu, and bus 222 will take you back to the airport.

title: Muuido


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Muvattupuzha

Muvattupuzha is a town and municipality in Ernakulam District of Kerala, India. This town is bordered by Idukki District on the eastern side and Kottayam District on the southern side approximately 15 km from the town. It is famous as the meeting point of three rivers;hence the name Muvattupuzha in Malayalam.

Understand
It is famous for being a town with three rivers joining to form Muvattupuzha. It lies at almost sea level, with small hills across the region,common characteristics of midland. It is an important town in central Kerala, India. It lies between the cities of Thrissur in North and Kottayam in South on the Main Central (MC) Road which runs along the length of the old Travancore, from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) to Angamaly. The town is full of greenery and decorated by the smooth-flowing Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers through the centre of the town. It was part of Vadakkumkoor Kingdom until it was captured by Travancore King.

Many non-Keralites cannot pronounce "Muvattupuzha", so commonly "Muvattupusha" is better understandable to others if you cannot pronounce "zha".

The town is separated by the Old Bridge which was supposedly the first concrete bridge in India. The main attraction for Muvattupuzha is the Muvattupuzhayaar or Muvattupuzha river which is very calm and cleanly flowing. In fact, the town is named after the river Muvattupuzha which flows through it. The name is made up of three Malayalam words 'Moo' which stands for 'three', 'aaru' - river, and 'puzha' - which also means a river. 'Aaru' is a word that is usually used to mention rivers in the southern half of Kerala, while 'puzha's are used to mention northern rivers. The three rivers in this case are the Kothamangalam river, Kaliyar and Thodupuzha, which merge to form a single river. This attribute is called Thriveni Sangamam' in Malayalam language. If you are coming to Kochi (Cochin), it is easy to and definitely worth visiting this town, as it is the major route to eastern parts of Kerala like Munnar via NH49 and towards various tourist attractions at Idukki District.

By plane
Kochi International Airport is located in Nedumbassery - approx 35 km from the town. There are flights to and from Colombo, Dubai, AbuDhabi, Singapore, Sharjah, Jeddah, Muscat, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Take a prepaid/normal taxi to Muvattupuzha.

By train
You can reach Muvattupuzha from other cities Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kozhikode (Calicut), Chennai, Bangalore, Bombay, New Delhi, Kolkata by train up to the nearby town Aluva,Kochi or Kottayam. There are two major railway stations in Kochi (Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Junction, locally known as North and South railway stations). The Indian Railways (http://www.indianrail.gov.in) serves Cochin with a number of train services connecting it to other parts of the state and the country. From Kochi in a little over an hour by bus or in 45 minutes by car you can reach Muvattupuzha.

Another option is to get down at Aluva Railway station and catch a bus to Muvattupuzha which is 34 km. This is closer than Cochin and since the bus station is next to the railway station you can save some money and time to reach get to the bus.

If you are coming from southern end of state,get down at Kottayam Railway Station which is 42 km away. KSTRC buses are available from Nagambadom or Kottayam bus station around the clock.It takes around 1½ hours to reach by bus via M.C. Road.

By bus
Muvattupuzha is accessible from all parts of the state via road. National Highway(NH) 49 and MC road passes through the town besides many important roads. State run Kerala Road Transport Corporation (K.S.R.T.C.) bus services and Private buses ply between towns.Ernakulam city is approximately 42 km away. There are tourist buses connecting Muvattupuzha from Mumbai,Bangalore,Chennai,Mangalore,Coimbatore etc.K.S.R.T.C runs chain services between Thrissur  and Kottayam  via  Muvattupuzha. also, between  Ernakulam  and Thodupuzha via Muvattupuzha besides other long-distance services passes through the town.

If travelling as part of a large group (14+) it is better to book a tourist coach that would take you to your destination. They also would take you sightseeing and is available in most of the cities. The full rates for the trips should be negotiated prior to departure to Kochi or anywhere else for that matter.

By car and truck
There are also "parallel services" running between cities in Kerala. These are normally run parallel to the KSRTC service by private operators on the same routes and is normally a car-share or sharing a mini SUV. A tout would walk around a bus station informing people about the service. These are a bit more expensive than the normal bus service, but is marginally faster and is considered an option if you miss your bus. These are unauthorised, but it is the driver's responsibility to pay the relevant bribes.

Get around
Nearby towns are also calm and safe for a traveller, with lots of things to explore for yourself. You can hire an auto rickshaw - the three-wheeled bug like vehicle-taxi for travel. But talk and fix the fare with the driver before the ride. It seems to me like most western travellers are much curious about Auto Rickshaws!

Surrounding area

 * Veegaland Amusement Park lies 24 km away.

Do

 * Ferry through the river by country boat known as Vallom.
 * Have a bath at smooth flowing Muvattupuzha or Thodupuzha rivers! From there you can walk parallel to the river, in some parts of the town there are casual fishing guys who can fetch you good fishes for cheap.
 * Touring the town and suburbs using Royal Enfield Bullet - a classic British thumper (motorcycle) still manufactured in Madras. You can tour to Munnar Hill station and beyond (Kodaikanal).

Buy
In Muvattupuzha you can get basic shopping amenities for e.g. like white goods and other things. There are 2 or 3 shopping malls. A few curio palaces are in the town, where you can collect Kerala style curios mostly models of various houses, country boats, etc.

Eat
In most hotels and restaurants, you can get Kerala meals which consist of lots of curries. Local specialities change with places, but you can find fish fry/curry items in almost all areas in Kerala. Unlike other parts of India, Kerala people are habitually more inclined to non-vegetarian foods. Beware of very cheap class hotels for hygienic reasons, as is with any other place.

You can also have ethnic toddy called 'Kallu' from 'Kallushops' or Toddy shops where you can find wide varieties of non-veg dishes like chicken, mutton, beef. The menu goes all the way through birds fry, mongoose fry, frogs, and ends up in many varieties of fish.

Drink

 * Kallu / Toddy is available in the city near 130 junction
 * Karikku / ilaneer (tender coconut).
 * Sambhaaram (buttermilk), especially on hot summer days.

If you don't mind a light alcoholic drink, you can try kallu or toddy, a country liquor made from the coconut tree. There are lots of government licensed toddy bars throughout Kerala. For non-drinkers there is limewater, lime-soda or sarbath along with all sorts of milkshakes, colas, etc.

Sleep
There are few hotels giving high class lodging. But cheaper lodges are a plenty.

Go next
There are a lot of tourist attractions in the eastern border of Muvattupuzha Taluka Which is Idukki District like Thekkadi, Periyar Wildlife Reserve.

There are a number of waterfalls in reach from the city. The Thomman Kuth waterfalls in Idukki district is 40 km away, another set of waterfalls is the Vazhachall-Athirapilly waterfalls, one the biggest in Kerala in both height and the volume of water, 48 km away from Muvattupuzha and is easily accessible by road. A waterfall Thomman Kutthu lies 37 km east in Idukki district.

 * Kallil - Kallil Temple, an ancient cave temple of Southern India (the cave is of neolithic era) is just about 15 km away near Perumbavoor (via Paipra-Methala route)

Hill stations

 * Munnar - A hill station which lies 90 km east, beyond Munnar
 * You can reach another hill station in the state of Tamilnadu called Kodaikanal which is 240 km from Muvattupuzha
 * Wagamon -,another Hillstation is 72 km via Thodupuzha,Erattupetta towns. It is an untampered, less crowded virgin hill station in Kottayam district.
 * Elaveezha Poonchira - (valley where leaves don't fall) - a hill station near Melukavu Mattom via Thodupuzha, with gigantic hills around 1000 m high. Famous for the legend that says the pool here was a bathing place for Panchali the legendary heroine of the Mahabharata.
 * Nadukani - yet another serene hill station which is 60 km south.

title: Muvattupuzha


text:
Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad (Urdu: مُظفَّرآباد, Pahari, Potwari, مُظفٌر آباد) is the capital of Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. It is located on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers. The district is bounded by North-West Frontier Province in the west, by the Kupwara and Baramulla districts of on the Indian side of the Line of Control in the east, and the Neelum District of Azad Kashmir in the north. The elevation is 737 m and the population is about 150,000 (in 2017).

Understand
Muzafarrabad was established in 1646 by Sultan Muzaffar Khan who ruled the Kashmir. He set up a red fort in the city to defend it against the Mughals. Muzafarrabad was the epicenter of the October 2005 earthquake that killed over 75,000 people. The city was devastated and filled with tent camps and non-government organizations. Rebuilding has been slow.

Get in
By road is practically only way to get in. There's an airport in the city but not operational. Buses and minibuses make the scenic journey regularly from Islamabad (4-5 hours).

If you're self-driving, the route via Murree is the quickest if you're coming Islamabad. Kohala is the entry point into Azad Kashmir, where you'll need to get through a checkpoint.

On own transport you need an hour to reach Murree. After Murree the road becomes thin and winding (and very scenic). Give yourself 3 hours to reach Kohala Bridge and another hour to reach Muzaffarabad. Approximately its 5 hours on your own car. The road is often in the process of repair and upgrading so there are slow, unpaved and bumpy sections. Driving this route in daylight, especially for your first time, is highly recommended.

Do
You can indulge in different activities like hiking, trekking and camping at the foothill regions of the Pir Chinassi, Saran, Sun Bun, Muskhi, Sakki and Jarran.

Buy

 * Handicrafts: Carpets, silk woolen clothing, woolen shawls, wood carving, Papier Mashie, rugs
 * Other products and fruits: mushrooms, honey, walnuts, apples, cherry, medicinal herbs & plants, resin, Deodar, Kail, Chir, Fir, Maple and Ash Timbers, etc.

Eat
The Pearl Continental has Chinese & Continental restaurants (with amazing views). Neelum View Hotel (which is no longer a hotel) has a nice terrace and OK food.

Pakistani and Kashmiri food is available everywhere. Many restaurants offer Chinese and Italian dishes as well.

In restaurants, it is a good idea to ask what is freshly cooked.

Chicken Karahi is a dish recommended for Pakistanis and Kashmiris as it can be cooked easily and one can see this being cooked.

Kashmiri Nan are wonderful in taste.

Try Kashmiri Pink Tea. You can take Kashmiri Kulcha as snack. Kashmiri Kulcha is different from Kulcha sold in Lahore or Gujranwala.

Try typical Kashmiri dishes like Goshtawa etc. but its hard to find real one.

Goshtawa can be found in Kashmiri Bazaar. It's in the middle of the city you can reach there taking a route of Upper Adda near AJK University or through Famous Madina Market. You can also find Kashmiri tea, Kulcha and Kashmiri Bakarkhani at same place.

Drink
Please drink bottled water, locally called mineral water and is available in ½-, 1- and 3-litre bottles.

Soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi are also available

Wine etc. is not available as it is Islamic country, however alcohol can be unofficially purchased by slipping money to the right people at hotels.

Sleep
There are various guest houses, rest houses, motels and hotels at most of the tourist spots which can be booked in advance from their offices in Muzaffarabad. (Tel: 058810-32625).

Go next

 * Hunza - area known for the ancient watch towers in Ganish, Baltit Fort and Altit Fort as well as carved on rocks along the valley.
 * Islamabad - located on the Pothohar Plateau which is one of the earliest known sites of human settlement in Asia.
 * Skardu - location of an incomparable cluster of mountain peaks and glaciers. Baltistan's five valleys, - Shigar, Skardu, Khaplu, Rondu and Kharmang are noted for their luscious peaches, apricots, apples and pears.
 * Srinagar, India (through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus) - home of many beautiful gardens and interesting sights.
 * Rawalakot - location of Banjosa Lake and Hot Springs in the Tatta Pani area.

title: Muzaffarabad


text:
Muzaffarpur

Muzaffarpur is a city in the state of Bihar, India. It is known as the "lychee capital" of the country. It is one of the oldest and most important commercial and educational centres of Bihar. Muzaffarpur has many historical sites, monuments, temples and other places of tourist interest.

By train
Muzaffarpur is well-connected to major cities in India through daily trains. Shaheed Express (Darbhanga-Amritsar), Mithila Express (Raxaul-Howrah), Maurya Express, Sadhbhawna Express, Vaishali Express (Barauni-New Delhi) and Amarnath Express (Barauni-Jammutawi) pass through this station. The Vaishali Express (Barauni-New Delhi), Bihar Sampark Kranti (Darbhanga-New Delhi), SaptKranti Express (Muzaffarpur-New Delhi) are the fastest and most comfortable way to arrive from Delhi or vice versa. The journey takes around 18-19 hours from New Delhi.

It's advised to book the train ticket well in advance since the trains are often heavily booked. Tickets can be booked online from the IRCTC website.

By car
Muzaffarpur is well-connected by bus to Patna, which is about 3 hours away. There are direct buses to Patna, Silliguri, Gauhati, Ranchi, etc.

Buses are the best option if one is traveling from Patna. Muzzafarpur is well connected by a network of roads with all the neighbouring cities and towns. The distance to some important cities are:

 * Bhagalpur
 * Bodhgaya
 * Bihar Sharif
 * Darbhanga
 * Kathmandu, Nepal
 * Madhubani
 * Patna
 * Ranchi
 * Raxual
 * Varanasi

By plane

 * Gaya Airport at Gaya is about 172 km from the city.
 * Jaiprakash Narayan Airport at Patna is about 75 km from the city. There are daily flights from Ranchi, Delhi, Calcutta and Lucknow.

Get around
You may hire taxi, autorickshaws and cycle rickshaws for local transportation. The city has a concept of shared autorickshaws. City ring bus service run by regional transport authority (RDA) has mini buses plying on five different routes. The minimum fare is ₹5 and maximum is ₹20. The main the introduction of ring bus service has broken the monopoly of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.

See

 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
 * Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.

Buy

One of the major attractions of Muzaffarpur is the Lahthi (Lakh ki Churiyan/Bangles)

Eat
Do eat the Jalebi and Malpua,lassi from the roadside shop at Santoshi Mata Mandir near railway station, one of the unique of its kind.

Taas and chura (dish of meat) near Laxmi Chowk.

Sweets like Rasmadhuri and many more delicious from Maharaja sweet and Bharat Jalpan near Saraiyaganj and Vaishali Sweets near Chatta Chowk are also famous for rasgulla, rasmadhuri and chat.

Connect
Muzaffarpur Tourist Information Center, BSTDC Hotel Lichchavi Vihar, Phone: 0621-2228512.

Go next
You may also take a day’s excursion to Rajgir and Vaishali to see the historic places of Buddhist significance. Nalanda is also close by where the remnants of the Nalanda University, stupas, monasteries and temples are worth exploring. The artifacts that have been excavated are on exhibit in the Nalanda museum. Other nearby destinations are Sonepur, Digha, Patna, Bihar-Sharif, Pawapuri, Munghyer and Rajgir.

title: Muzaffarpur


text:
Mwanza

Mwanza is a city in Northwest Tanzania on the southern edge of Lake Victoria. Your main reason for coming here would likely be en route to Rwanda or Uganda. The city received some international attention after the controversial documentary Darwin's Nightmare, which is about the trade in the Nile Perch, centered in this city.

By plane

 * Air Tanzania: Dar es Salaam, Bukoba Kilimanjaro.
 * Precision Air: Bukoba, Kilimanjaro ,Dar es Salaam. (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta).
 * Auric Air: Bukoba, Kigoma, (Kigali Rwanda), Mpanda
 * Coastal Aviation: Dar es SalaamArusha. Zanzibar.
 * Coastal Aviation: Dar es SalaamArusha. Zanzibar.

By bus

 * There are daily buses from Mwanza going to and from Dar es Salaam. Transport company Shabibi bus lines is one of the best and most reliable of choices. The journey takes around 17 hours to reach Dar es Salaam and the fare is TSh45,000. you could do a stopover in Dodoma which is around a 9-hour bus ride from Mwanza. There is a paved road from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam via Shinyanaga.
 * There are daily buses to the borders of Burundi (Kabanga) and Rwanda (Busoro). from Nyegezi bus station 10 km south of Mwanza
 * There are daily buses going to Tabora 6 hours, Bukoba 7 hours, Musoma 4 hours, Kigoma 10 hours.
 * From Mwanza to the Kenya border at Isibania is 278 km and takes 5 hours by bus. There are daily Modern coast express buses to and from Kenya.

By train
Tanzania Railways has services from Dar es Salaam via Tabora several days a week, departing from Dar at 9PM. The trip to takes around 40 hours. The 1st class two-berth sleeper fare to Dar is TSh75,000. There are also 2nd class six-berth sleepers and 3rd class seats on the train. At Tabora it's possible to change trains for Mpanda and Kigoma.

The small is centrally located.

By boat
From Bukoba: After several years out of service, the refurbished ferry between Mwanza and Bukoba has resumed operation under the name MS New Victoria in June 2020. The timetable remains the same as in previous years: the ferry departs Bukoba every Monday, Wednesday, Friday evening around 21:00 and reaches Mwanza the next day in the morning. As of November 2021 adults pay TSh16,000/30,000/45,000 for an Economy/Business/First class trip (one-way). Children pay half.

Get around
Daladalas (public "buses") are a good, cheap way to get from the city to the surrounding areas. Costing only TSh300 for a trip, they are crowded, slow, and thrilling sometimes. You may want to ask someone which one you need to take as there are no transit maps.

Taxis can be an option, although there aren't any official labels on them as there are in the capital. White licence plates means that the vehicle is registered for commercial use, and yellow mean private. Not all taxis have white licence plates, but some do. The taxis should be white cars with white licence plates. Use at your own risk.

Pikipikis are the little motorcycles that will take one or two people on as a fare. There are usually a few sitting at intersections. These are very dangerous because of influx of vehicles in Mwanza and again, use at your own risk.

See

The shores of Lake Victoria are interesting to walk along and popular with locals. Also, climb to the top of Capri Point at the west end of Station Road for a nice view of the area.

Buy
Frozen and fresh Nile perch fish fillet boxes available near the airport is the great buy.

There are some excellent fabric markets on the north end of Rwagasore Road with patterns and designs that aren't available in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.

Walk through the market area between Lumumba and Pamba Roads for an intense taste of a bustling market. Don't carry a wallet.

Remember to bargain with merchants. It's expected.

Malls & supermarkets

 * Rock City Mall. is the largest shopping mall in Mwanza. The mall has many stores and a large TSN supermarket. Cinema. Stanbic Bank & ATMs. Phone stores. 8AM-10PM.

Eat
Great Lake Victoria's fresh water tilapia fish is a must eat food. A good number of fish industries exist. They export Nile perch fish fillet (sangara fish) to Europe and South Africa. Street food. Oranges, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, cassava, roast maize, taro are all available on the street from vendors for TSh100-1000. Also available are mandazi, bagias, and other local fried breads in some areas. Vendors are usually walking around, so they may be harder to find.

 * The Food Square, Bantu St. near Nkrumah St. Open for breakfast and lunch.  Excellent, popular, fast, local food for TSh1000-4000 per person.  A great daily stop.  No alcohol.
 * Harish Pan House, Nyerere and Post St. Indian food with Zanzibar flavor.  Vegetarian menu limited to Samosas, Zanzibar mix soup, snacks and other Indian traditional breads.
 * Mayi Hotel, Spacious outdoor restaurant with a good diverse menu. Lots of fish and chicken dishes.  Arrive later in the evening for more menu availability.  Their spaghetti and cheese sauce is especially good if you're vegetarian.  TSh8000-12,000.
 * New Mwanza Institute, Station Rd. west of the train tracks. Popular local outdoor restaurant.  Local dishes only.  TSh2000-4000.
 * Airport kiosk, opposite Mwanza airport terminal. Local outdoor restaurant. Try the chapati and fish soup. Local dishes only. TSh2000-4000.
 * New Mwanza Institute, Station Rd. west of the train tracks. Popular local outdoor restaurant.  Local dishes only.  TSh2000-4000.
 * Airport kiosk, opposite Mwanza airport terminal. Local outdoor restaurant. Try the chapati and fish soup. Local dishes only. TSh2000-4000.

Drink

 * The Breeze, second floor in the New Mwanza Hotel (stairs are in the front, not the ones that go up to rooms). Nice view of traffic and people walking below.  Open air but covered.  A good place to wait out a sudden rain shower.
 * The Breeze, second floor in the New Mwanza Hotel (stairs are in the front, not the ones that go up to rooms). Nice view of traffic and people walking below.  Open air but covered.  A good place to wait out a sudden rain shower.

Any local hotel and most restaurants serve beer and other drinks

Go next
There is a ferry across the Mwanza gulf that leaves from the city (the Kamanga ferry) and another about 32 km south of the city. The southern one is recommended for driving because the roads on the western terminal are rumored to be much better.
 * Bukoba
 * Dodoma
 * Tabora
 * Kenya
 * Uganda
 * Rwanda

title: Mwanza