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Silves

Silves is a city in the Algarve. It was the capital of the nominal Kingdom of the Algarve and is of great historical importance.

Understand

Silves (SEEL-v(ih)sh, /ˈsiɫ.vɨʃ/)

In 2011, about 11,000 people lived in the main town, and 37,000 in the urban area.

The title "King of the Algarve" was adopted by the Portuguese king in 1249 as a way of affirming dominion over the region that was also claimed by the King of Castile. The kingdom, however, functioned as a province of Portugal, and did not have autonomy or separate institutions. The title was used until 1822.

Get in
The nearest airport to Silves is Faro (FAO). Flights to Faro are affordable and accessible from most major European cities, particularly the UK and Ireland. In a bid to boost winter tourism, the department of tourism has also worked hard to promote the Algarve as a popular winter destination and this has led to airlines such as Ryanair adding new routes during what is traditionally considered to be the low season.

It is also possible to fly to Lisbon or Porto, both of which are connected to the Algarve by regular coach services.

Intercity bus service is provided by Eva Transportes.

Get around
The easiest way to get around Silves is by hiring a car. Public transport is an option although many of the services are not very frequent and are often seasonal. Silves does not have a train stop, however it is possible to use the mezzines stop which is only around fifteen minutes drives from Silves.

Eat
Fevres de porco (literally, secrets of pork) is a popular local dish.

Drink
Superbock - A popular Portuguese beer.

title: Silves


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Silvia

Silvia is a small town that is a 1 hour bus ride on curvy roads from Popayan. It features an authentic market full of locals and very few tourists. Clothing, electronics, houseware, freshly butchered meat, fruits, etc. are sold there. At the market one can find Guambiano Indians dressed in their traditional outfits unpacking wares from traditional chiva buses.

Silvia also has a nice plaza with many churches throughout the town. Even on the busiest market day one can easily escape to find calmness. Hiking up to the church on the hill offers a spectacular view.

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

title: Silvia


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Simcoe County

Simcoe County is a region of about 480,000 people (2016) in Central Ontario. Simcoe attracts 8 million visitors a year, many of them coming for water sports in the summer, like boating and fishing on the lakes, or for skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. Indoor sports include shopping at outlet malls, and gambling at the casino.

Cities

 * — the largest city in the county, and a playground for watersports and boating on the bay
 * — the gateway to two major recreational area: Blue Mountain ski resort and Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
 * — home of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a living history museum
 * — festivals, museums, and Casino Rama
 * — focussed onnthe water, it has an historic harbour and several marinas
 * — the world's longest freshwater beach draws over 2 million visitors every summer
 * — a stopping-off point for people heading to summer cottages

Other destinations

 * — 6 public campgrounds, swimming, canoeing (rentals available) and hiking (31 km of trails). Geological features include the Nipissing Bluff and a kettle lake formed during the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the most recent ice age.

Understand
Simcoe County is home to a range of industries from agricultural, industrial to high-tech.

Honda of Canada Manufacturing and is one of the county's largest single employers. Other industries include plastics, glass manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and aggregate resources. The county is also home to Casino Rama, Georgian College, Canadian Forces Base Borden, a campus of Lakehead University and the Ontario Provincial Police Headquarters.

Tourism is a vital industry in Simcoe County. Simcoe County plays host to over eight million visitors annually.

History
The area that is now Simcoe County was home to the Huron First Nations (Indigenous) people before European exploration. The Huron capital, Ossossané, was at one time the largest Indigenous settlement in all of North America outside Mexico. The former Wendake area near Nottawasaga Bay was the site of the earliest French exploration and settlement of Ontario; they were the first Europeans in the area. Several historic sites, including Carhagouha and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, mark the earliest known contacts between the area's traditional Huron population and French missionaries.

Simcoe County was named by Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe in honour of his father Captain John Simcoe. It was established as part of the Home District in 1798 by the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.

By car
Simcoe County is traversed by many Provincial Highways; Ontario Highway 400 being the most significant. Other provincial highways in Simcoe County include: Highway 11, Highway 12, Highway 26, Highway 89 and Highway 93.

By train
GO Transit operates daily commuter rail services to and from downtown Toronto along its Barrie line with three stops in Simcoe County: one stop in Bradford West Gwillimbury (Bradford) and two stops in Barrie (Barrie South and Allandale Waterfront).

Via Rail's Canadian Toronto-Vancouver transcontinental passenger train makes request stops at the Washago railway station in Severn.

By plane
The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is almost midway between Barrie and Orillia, in the township of Oro-Medonte. The airport is equipped to accommodate propeller and jet aircraft. The closest airport with scheduled service is Toronto Pearson Airport.

By bus
Intercity bus services serving Simcoe County include GO Transit (Route 68), and Ontario Northland.

By car
The road network in Simcoe County is based on a grid pattern, with most roads running north–south or east–west. Simcoe County also maintains an extensive series of County Roads, see List of numbered roads in Simcoe County.

By bus
The intercommunity regional bus service is called LINX, and the paratransit service is called LINX+. The LINX system connects population centres in the area such as Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Penetanguishene, Wasaga Beach, and Collingwood, and acts as an intermediate transit layer between local community bus services and higher-order regional transit, such as GO Transit and Ontario Northland.

Some of the county's larger urban centres have local public transit operations, which consist of bus services. These include Barrie Transit, BWG Transit (Bradford West Gwillimbury), Colltrans (Collingwood), Orillia Transit, Midland Penetanguishene Transit, and Wasaga Beach Transit.

See
You can take a break from the beautiful outdoors — the beaches, the skihills, the boating — to enjoy cultural activities in Orillia. It has an arts district, an art gallery, a couple of museums, and an opera house that stages professional theatre in the summer, and concerts and local productions through the year.

Midland is the town to visit to explore the region's history at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a recreated 17th-century French Jesuit mission headquarters, and Huronia Museum & Ouendat Village, which features a replica of a “pre-contact” Huron/Ouendat village, including a lookout tower, wigwam and a full-size longhouse.

Do
Go to the beach: Wasaga's 18 km of white sand beach are the place to be in the summer. Blue Mountain, near Collingwood, is an all seasons resort that is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in winter, and for its waterpark and golf courses in summer.

For hiking and biking, a rail trail connects Collingwood to the towns of Owen Sound and Barrie.

Awenda Provincial Park, near Penetanguishene, is one of most beautiful parts of Georgian Bay shore, with sand, cobble and boulder beaches in sheltered Methodist Point Bay.

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, in Wasaga Beach, is great for swimming. You can walk out a long way and the water remains warm and shallow. The beaches are numbered 1 to 6 from east to west. In the winter, there is cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the park's trails.

Casino Rama, near Orillia, has restaurants, a hotel and spa, and an entertainment complex which regularly hosts ticketed shows.

Go next
Continue north to the rugged regions of Muskoka, Parry Sound and Northern Ontario. These less populated places on the rocky Canadian Shield provide endless opportunities for boating, canoeing, hiking, fishing and hunting.

Or head south to the Greater Toronto Area for its vibrant urban life and cultural attractions.

title: Simcoe County


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Simeria

Simeria is a town in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is a name derived from the original name of Sânmăria (Saint Mary). It has a population of 13,895 inhabitants.

Understand
Simeria is in the west of Romania, in the Mures meadow at its confluence with Strei River, between the Apuseni Mountains and Retezat Mountains.

It is 16 km west of Orastie and 10 km east of Deva, an important railway junction with hump yard. Benefits also of the European road E68 / DN7.

By car
Simeria is on E 68/DN 7 road.

By train
Simeria is an important railway junction with hump yard. There are train connections with Bucharest, Timisoara,Cluj-Napoca, Arad, Iasi, Constanta and even Budapest.

Get around
Simeria is a small town. You can take a walk to see the major objectives.

Phone
Area code is 254 for Romtelecom and 354 for RDS. If you dial from Romania you must dial 0254(0354) and if you dial from abroad you must dial +40254(+40354)

Go next

 * Deva, 10 km away from Simeria. Visit Deva Fortress.
 * Orastie, 16 km away from Simeria. Visit the Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains.
 * Hunedoara, 25 km away from Simeria. Visit Corvinestilor Castle.
 * Hateg, 31 km away from Simeria. Visit Prislop Monastery, Densus Church, Colt Church and Citadel.
 * Petrosani, 81 km away from Simeria. Go skiing in Parang and Straja.

title: Simeria


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Simferopol

Simferopol (Russian: Симферополь, Ukrainian: Сімферополь) is the capital city of the Crimea.

Understand
For the most part this is a place of transit to the coast or to the mountains. It is famous for having the world's longest trolley bus service -- it's 56 km long.

Get in
All roads coming to Crimea lead to Simferopol, the undisputed transport hub of the region.

By plane

Marshrutka buses leave from across the car park outside the arrival area, look for the large Krimtrolleybus sign. Buses leave for city centre and the railway station every few minutes. Bus №49 connects with Central Intercity Bus Station, №115 or №98 with the railway station and the Kurortnaya bus station which have connections to sea-side cities such as Sevastopol, Yalta, Sudak and Yevpatoria. Also, there are lots of annoying private taxi drivers at the airport, if you take a taxi always agree on a rate before you board a cab and make sure that the price is for the entire route (not for each kilometer).

By train
Simferopol used to have very good train connections with all major domestic destinations and several international routes too. These ceased when Crimea was annexed in 2014. Russian trains are operated by RZD.

By bus
There are about a dozen a day bus and marshrutka rides from Sevastopol each day. They get busy, particularly at weekends, and it is best to book some time in advance. If you are unable to take public transport, taxis will take you there.

By marshrutka
A convenient way to get around is by public transport, and Simferopol has a wide range of it. The most popular is called marshrutka or a minivan, minibus, or taxi. Taxi of course is most expensive but is a fastest alternative. A ride on the minivan or the bus however, might cost you only the equivalent of ₽10. The public transportation will bring you almost all around the city.

By taxi
Always agree on a rate before you board a cab. If driver offers you a cheap price make sure that this price is for the entire route not for each kilometer. Be warned that it's difficult to communicate with drivers, as they speak virtually no English or any other foreign language.

Taxi cost of one journey to any place of the city can be up to USD 20. To order taxi by phone is a way to save money. Some numbers: +380 63 250-3350, +380 652 547200, +380 652 710071 from mobile phone or 1504, 1567, 1568 and some others from local phone.

See
It's not the most interesting city, but there are a few things to see.

 * Lenin Square - the only square in Simferopol which boasts about nothing much. Skateboarders skating in the evenings, live concerts on and off, a place where locals usher in the New Year, a politician party campaigning site.
 * Central Market (Centralny Rynok) - everything from fresh food to clothes to hardware is easily available here. Generally the best place for shopping, and for getting skidkas (Ukrainian for "discount").
 * Train Station - a lovely building, especially to leave the city from.

Parks

 * There is a famous

Do
There is always a time where you can run out of things to do in this place. Nevertheless if you look hard enough, you will find something to occupy your time with.

In the harsh hot weather during the summer with temperatures ranging over 45 °C, you may take a stroll in the park. There are horse riding activities, boating, feeding ducks. Besides that, the best thing to do is rehydrate yourself as often as possible, and protect yourself with some SPF (read SPF 30 and above).

Then comes the other extreme - the cold chilly winter. Temperature may dip down to as low as -25 °C in late January and February. Skiing in Ai Petri is a great getaway from the town. In the centre itself, there is a skating rink. Besides that, you may opt to drink some vodka to keep yourself warm.

 * Caves - around 17 km from the city. Take a minibus from the railway station to the end stop Perevalnoe for 3 hours, and then either walk 3 km to the Red Cave or take a taxi 11 km up a nearby mountain to the tremendous Marble Cave, discovered in 1987. A full tour takes 80 minutes. Shorter tours are cheaper but the full one is well worth it.

Buy
The most popular place for shopping is in 'Silpo'. Its quite a big supermarket with all essential items and food stuff. There are also several boutiques in it.

There are also supermarkets like 'Furshet' and 'Rainford' around the city. Best would be to ask a taxi driver to take you to these places, or get familiarised with the names of the roads, and you can easily take a minivan there.

Minivan No. 62, 10 and 74 can take you to the shopping place called "Foxmart".

Debit and credit cards are accepted in most shops in the city, but not accepted in rural area and markets. There are a lot of ATM.

Eat
The number one must-eat food in Simferopol is plov. This Turkic rice-based dish with sauteed meats and vegetables is very oily, so those on dietary restrictions may want to check twice before eating. One plate of plov cost approximately USD3 at the Central Market.

Number two must eat food is meat on skewer, cooked over charcoal. It's called shashlik by the locals. Goes very well with raw onion with vinegar and with lepeoshka (round bread)

Number three on the list is lagman, a local version of noodle soup.

In fourth place is the locals' favourite borsh. It's a vegetable soup, generally eaten with bread. Solenka is also a local soup that is worth trying.

Drink
Crimean wine, best to buy in supermarkets or in a company outlet shops. Also drink Ukrainian vodka - horilka. "Hortitsa" brand of horilka is recommended.

Budget

 * As with the rest of Crimea it's possible to find private accommodation, just look for people (mainly women) with signs "Housing" (Russian: Жильё) near the railway station. It's considerably cheaper than hotels, but it's of the very different quality. Ask for photos if available. The main gathering point for them is 100 meters away from the outdoor screen (displaying train timetables) in the direction to city center.

Go next

 * Kerch
 * Bakhchisaray
 * Evpatoria
 * Saki
 * Sevastopol
 * Sudak
 * Yalta

title: Simferopol


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Simi

There is more than one place called Simi:

Greece

 * Symi, also transliterated as Simi, a Greek island

Iran

 * Simi (Iran), a village

United States of America

 * Simi Valley, California
 * Simi Hills, California, a mountain range

title: Simi


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Simien National Park

Simien National Park, also known as Simien Mountains National Park, is in the Amhara region in northern Ethiopia. It was one of the first sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. It features spectacular scenery viewed from its peaks and escarpments and fascinating gelada monkeys and other wildlife. The park headquarters are outside the park in Debark, the nearest town, on the main road between Gondar (to the south) and Shire and Axum (to the north).

Get in
Buses travelling between Gondar and Shire/Axum pass through Debark, which is the main starting point for the national park. Debark is about 3 hours from Gondar on a paved road. It is 5-7 hours from Shire over a road that is being improved and paved (as of 2014), but while the roadworks are going on it can be extremely rough and dusty.

Minibuses to and from Gondar are available; however there are no buses that start in Debark and head to Shire/Axum, and those that pass through Debark are usually full by the time they arrive in town. The best options are either to go back to Gondar and find a bus to Shire/Axum from there, or have someone else go to Gondar and reserve tickets on your behalf. This latter option can usually be done by hotel staff, or can be arranged by your tour organizer if you happen to be trekking in the Simien Mountains through an organized tour.

Fees and permits
Go to the park office in the south end of Debark – if coming from Gondar, this is on the left just after reaching the town. They will arrange permits and the mandatory scout, and take fees. Hikes can be arranged and, if desired, they can find an official guide, cook, mules and a muleman. They have gear for rent, though it is low quality. The scout, guide, and muleman may expect you to feed them, so take sufficient food.

The fees are:

1. Entrance fee for foreigners, 90 birr; plus 10 birr per day for camping (Dec 2014).

2. Guide fees:
 * 400 birr, regardless of the number of people. (July 2019)

3. Game scout: 150 birr per day (Dec 2014)

4. Cook (Dec 2014):
 * 1-3 people – 300 birr
 * 4-10 people – 450 birr
 * 11+ people – 600 birr

5. Mules: 200 birr per day per mule, and mule man also 200 birr per day (Dec 2014).

6. Vehicle transfers – one-way, either direction. The two most popular are below, but there are transfers from Debark to other places in the park as well.
 * As of July 2019: USD60 total from Debark to Simien lodge and back, during a rainy (=low) season.

The only required fees to be paid are the entrance fee and game scout fee, so hiking through the park can be quite cheap, especially if you can avoid the rather exorbitant transfer fees (there are mixed reports on being able to flag down local vehicles or otherwise negotiate with the official cars). There are very basic "community lodges" available throughout much of the park, though they are more expensive than camping.

A lot of people will hassle you in Debark. If you are going to hire a guide, make that one of your first tasks, since your guide will get rid of unwanted people following you around and can help you sort out any last minute details or concerns. Do not hire an unofficial guide off the street – travellers frequently complain about their experience with unofficial guides.

Get around
A road runs from Debark through the park and accesses some of the campsites and villages. 4x4s and lorries go through Sankaber, Geech and Chenek, but tourists are prohibited from using them and most visitors use mountain hiking paths to get around. As a tourist, the only way into the park are to hire a 4x4, walk or go with a tour company.

Be sure to arrange transport out of the park before entering. There are no working phone lines in the park, so you can't call headquarters for a 4x4 once you're in. Buses and trucks aren't allowed to pick up hikers. They'll ask for upwards of USD200 to overlook this rule.

See
The park contains Ethiopia's biggest and most spectacular mountain range, the Simien Mountains. Ras Dashen at 4,553 m is the country's highest peak, although the views from the Northern Escarpment may be a bigger attraction, with rock faces falling away thousands of feet from summits like Inatye (4,070 m) and Imet Gogo (3,960 m).

 * Wildlife is an attraction of the park, including birds and some mammals. Troops of grass-eating geladas, a close relative of baboons, are a common sight on hikes and will come close to tourists, scouts and guides, but not so close to the villagers who live and graze stock in the national park. The rare walia ibex is found in higher parts of the ranges. If you're really lucky, you may see one of the rare Ethiopian wolves (sometimes called jackals or foxes) found here and in a few other mountain ranges in Ethiopia. With only a few hundred of the species remaining, these are the world's rarest canid and Africa's most endangered carnivore, and feed mainly on mountain rodents.

Do
Nearly all visitors to the Simien National Park come to hike through the spectacular mountain scenery. You can do a 5-day trek from Debark to Sankabar Camp to Geech Camp to Chenek Camp and back to Debark via Sankabar (skipping Geech) and see all the main sights. You need 9 days to trek to Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia, and back without transport.

 * The park website provides information on the most popular routes, along with useful tips on visiting the area.

 * A number of companies offer fairly standard fully organized trips (incl. guide, scouts, food, cook, and camping gear) starting at 2 days (~USD150pp) up to 17 days (Debark to Lalibela). Trips directly from Gondar can be easily arranged through a company such as Simientrek. They are very professional and provide everything but the price is not less than USD100 per day per person (Mar 2020).

 * A less expensive option would be to arrange a 3 night trip: travel to Debark the day before your trip and organise a guide and scout at the office. Day one get a bajaj to Buyit Ras or thereabouts and walk a couple of hours to Sankabar. Best to bring your own water to Sankabar. There are plenty of community lodges so a tent is not required but a good sleeping bag is as its shirtsleeve weather during the day and below zero at night. Sankabar is on the main road. Day two walk to Geech camp, there is a good stream about mid morning where you can swim and wash clothes. The locals drink the water without boiling or sterilising it. There is no road access to Geech camp. One passes giant lobelia on the way but Geech camp itself is above the treeline. There are community lodges at Geech camp so no need for a tent. Day three walk to Chenek, on the way the stunning Imet Gogo is passed with the best views of the walk and shortly thereafter the high point of the walk at a little over 4,000 m. Chenek is on the main road, there are community lodges so no need for a tent. There is a small stream at Chenek but the water definitely will need boiling or sterilising. Day four return to Debark. It may be possible to catch a public bus but otherwise its a 40km walk along the road to Debark. A bajaj might be prepared to travel to Sankabar to pick you up but the road is far too rough after Sankabar for anything but 4WD and heavy vehicles. This walk traverses the best of the Simien scenery and there is the possibility of sighting the famed walia ibex.

Buy
The essentials are usually bought in Debark. A woven gabi, a thick shawl, is useful for the cold mountain nights and can be purchased at the market (around 300-500 birr, depending on quality). Maps are available at the park headquarters.

Eat
In Debark, the Simien Park Hotel on the main road offers reliable Ethiopian food. A few shops sell tinned food and bread. Food suitable for trekking is available in Debark, but it is cheaper to buy it in Gondar or Axum where there is a much better selection.

In the mountains, live chickens and eggs can be bought from villagers. Otherwise, the only alternative to your own supplies is the Simien Lodge at Buyit Ras, a few hours hike from Debark.

Drink
Both hotels mentioned serve St. George beer and delicious Ethiopian coffee, even if you are not staying.

Sleep
The main hotel in Debark is the Simien Park Hotel on the main road south of the bus station. There are a few other decent places nearby if the Simien Park Hotel is full.

In July 2019 you could get a simple room for 2 people (two single beds) for 300 birr total (shower and toilet outside, not very clean).

Giant Loblia Hotel - 400 birr (July 2019) for a double room. Make sure you go directly to the reception, instead of having someone "help" you get there since then you will get charged more (this extra money will go to your helper, but naturally you can approach the reception by yourself).

In the mountains, the Simien Lodge, self-proclaimed "highest hotel in Africa" at 3,260 m, offers upmarket accommodation in tukels, or huts. A dorm bunk costs USD31, a two-person tukel USD135 and a four-person tukel USD183.

Limalimo Lodge opened in 2016 and offers great views, food, service and facilities. It was developed by the local community and is 15 minutes' drive from Debark.

Go next

 * Gondar and its royal castles to the south. Minibuses leave from the bus station and cost 75 birr. They also charge 25 birr/50 birr for small/big luggage but it is unsure if this is legitimate, i.e. if they also charge it to locals.
 * Axum with its stelae and other historic structures to the north

title: Simien National Park


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Similan Islands

The national park of the Similan Islands (เกาะสิมิลัน) is in southern Thailand, 50 km west of Khao Lak. It is considered the best place in Thailand for divers.

Understand
The park covers 140 km2 in total. In 1998, the park was expanded to include the two remote islands Ko Bon and Ko Tachai, but since "Sembilan" is Malay for "nine" this doesn't seem to stick in people's minds and those are not visited as often as the original nine.

Geography
The park is an archipelago consisting of 11 islands, occupying an area of approximately 140 km2 with a land area of about 26 km2. For convenience, the Thai Department of National Parks (DNP) has assigned numbers to the islands. From north to south, they are:
 * Island 11: Ko Tachai
 * Island 10: Ko Bon, AKA Ko Talu
 * Island 9: Ko Ba-ngu, AKA Ko Bayu
 * Island 8: Ko Similan
 * Island 7: Ko Hin Pousar
 * Island 6: Ko Payu, AKA Ko Pa Yu
 * Island 5: Ko Ha
 * Island 4: Ko Miang, AKA Ko Meang. Park HQ is here.
 * Island 3: Ko Payan, AKA Ko Pa Yan
 * Island 2: Ko Payang, AKA Ko Pa Yang
 * Island 1: Ko Huyong, AKA Ko Hu Yong

History
The islands were created by upwellings of hot magma during the Tertiary-Cretaceous period some 65 million years ago, then smoothed by glacial ice and the erosion by the sea. The coral reefs are about 5,000 years old and hence the oldest in Thailand. In 1982, the national park was established and now it is scheduled to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 2004 tsunami left the islands and the underwater landscape almost unharmed, since the waters are very deep around the islands.

Landscape
The nine granite islands are postcard perfect images of paradise, covered in tropical jungle and equipped with beaches of chalk-white sand. As if this was not enough, the views under the water surface are even more impressive and many people believe this is the best dive site in Thailand. Skin-Diver Magazine has acclaimed the Similans to be one of the ten most beautiful places in the world.

Flora and fauna
There is an enormous diversity of fish species. Underwater visibility is the best you will find in Thailand. You will see plenty of colourful fish such as lionfish and clownfish (Nemo), and if you're lucky you may spot a bigger one like a manta or even a whale shark. The corals in the area have largely fallen victim to coral bleaching in 2010 and have not yet recovered, though the fish still make snorkelling and diving worthwhile.

On Ko Huyong, the Royal Thai Marines run a turtle breeding facility and access to the island is restricted.

Climate
High season in the Similans is from Dec-Apr, when the monsoon stays far away. The best period to visit is Mar, when the winds are calm and the water clear. The national park is closed from 16 May-15 Nov.

Get in
As of 15 October 2018, the number of visitors to the Similans will be capped at 3,850 per day. All visitors must buy a national park admission ticket and insurance before boarding a tourist boat. No single-use plastic is permitted in the national park.

The Similans are closed to visitors during the rainy season, 16 May-15 October every year. In addition, Ko Tachai has been closed to the public for an indefinite period since 15 May 2016 to allow the island to recover from the destruction caused by excessive numbers of visitors.

Virtually every dive shop on the North Andaman Coast offers diving and/or snorkelling day trips and liveaboards to the Similans. Dedicated cruises usually start at four days and four nights (4D/4D) in length. Many shorter trips are available, often with operators who have a large vessel stationed at the islands who do regular transfers using speedboats. Consult dive shop listings in Khao Lak, Ko Lanta, Phuket, Ranong, and even Bangkok agents for information.

Fees and permits
The national park admission fee for foreigners is 500 baht per day (children 300 baht). For Thai citizens the fee is 50 baht, children 20 baht. A diving fee is an additional 200 baht per day regardless of passport. Most boats do not include this in their quoted price. Fees are paid to the authorities via your dive operator before the trip.

Get around
Once on the islands there is the option of using the marine park boats for transit between the islands. This is not totally reliable, but is a less expensive alternative.

Do

 * Ko Similan: Ko Similan is the largest island. The sea in the area has an average depth of 60 feet. Underwater it is full of rock formations and coral reefs in several shapes and forms, resembling such things as deer, leaves, brains, and mushrooms. Above the water are found many diverse species such as the Nicobar pigeon, mangrove monitor lizards, flying fox and more.

 * Ko Huyong: Ko Huyong has the longest and widest beach in the park. However, the park prohibits any tourists from landing on the island as the beach is a place where turtles come to lay their eggs.

 * Dive sites: Similan National Park is famous for its dive sites. It has typically two different kinds of diving. Eastside diving consists of gently sloping coral reefs with sandy patches with the occasional boulder in-between. The west side is known for its huge underwater granite boulders with numerous swim-throughs. Maybe the most famous east side dive site is East of Eden, off-island number 7. Elephant Head Rock is one of the most famous west side dive sites, with a maze of swim-throughs and the reputation for spin cycle-like currents running in every direction.

 * Elephant Head Rock: was named by Horst Hinrichs from Germany in the mid-1970s, founder of one of the oldest dive shops in Phuket, Santana Diving.

 * Other popular dive sites include North Point, Deep Six, Boulder City and the awesome pinnacles off Ko Bon and Ko Tachai.

 * The most important of all dive sites in the Similans, in reality, part of Surin National Park, is Richelieu Rock, famous for its variety and abundance of marine life. Whale shark sightings are not uncommon here. However, since 1999, its once most beautiful dive site, Fantasy Reef, has been closed from all diving activities after its condition had significantly deteriorated. Park chiefs officially blame diving for the deterioration, while dive operators in the area claim that fishing boats, with or without permission, enter the national park during the low season when no dive operators are allowed in the national park. The national park also claims that the dive site suffered significant damage from the tsunami in 2004, and continues to keep the reef closed. Since only national park staff are allowed to dive Fantasy Reef, it has been impossible to confirm that statement.

Stay safe
See the Stay safe section of the scuba diving article for diving safety tips. The islands are closed from mid-May to mid-October each year. Tour operators going to the islands during the closed period are breaking the law.

Go next
The Surin Islands, which lie 40 km north of the Similan Islands. Restrictions on the number of visitors to the Surin Islands are anticipated.

title: Similan Islands


text:
Similkameen

The Similkameen Valley (or simply, the Similkameen) lies in the southern part of the Thompson-Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. The towns and villages are few and small, but there's some big scenery, particularly in the provincial parks. The eastern end of the valley is similar to the nearby Okanagan and is a great place to stop and get fresh fruit in the summer and early fall.

Cities

 * — a base for doing wine tours
 * — central to the wineries and orchards in the region, and gateway to the Okanagan
 * — old mining town with some nice murals

Other destinations

 * — hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter
 * — off the beaten path, but the hikes and scenery make it worthwhile

Understand
The Similkameen was one of the first areas of the province prospected as well as farmed and ranched. It had several famous gold strikes and large mining operations, notably the Tulameen Gold Rush of the 1880s and 1890s and the Nickel Plate Mine at Hedley. Coal was mined at Blakeburn and Coalmont, and copper at Allenby and Copper Mountain, all in the vicinity of Princeton.

Orcharding and ranching are important to the Similkameen Country. Orcharding and ranching operations in the Keremeos was started by Bohemian immigrant Francis Xavier Richter in 1864. Richter's original 30 acres (120,000 m²) of fruit trees at Keremeos Centre are considered to be one of the two foundations of BC's orcharding industry. There is now a burgeoning wine industry and a boom in sunbelt-oriented recreation housing and property development.

The Similkameen Country is mostly in the traditional territory of the Similkameen subdivision of the Okanagan people or Syilx. There are two First Nations bands in the region, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band at Princeton and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band at Keremeos. The upper reaches of the Similkameen and its upper tributaries such as the Tulameen and Pasayten Rivers, however, were part of the traditional territory of the Nlaka'pamux and their subgroup the Scw'exmx.

By car
BC Highway 3 (the Crowsnest Highway) is the main road in and out of the region, connecting it with the Okanagan Valley to the east and Vancouver via Hwy 1 at Hope to the west. BC Highway 3A, at Keremeos, provides an alternate and shorter way of reaching the Okanagan. BC Highway 5A, at Princeton, connects the region to Merritt and Kamloops in the Thompson-Nicola.

By public transit

 * Operates bus route 50 three days per week between Penticton and Princeton with stops in Keremeos.

By plane
There are no major airports in the region. The nearest airports with scheduled commercial flights are Kelowna (about 90 minutes northeast of Keremeos), Penticton (40 minutes northeast of Keremeos, fewer flight options), and Abbotsford (about 2 hours west of Princeton).

Get around
The provincial highways in the Similkameen are the main means of getting around. Highway 3 is the main road and has fairly frequent passing lanes and 4-lane sections. Once you're off the highways, the roads are often gravel, or if they are paved, it will be narrow and windy. Having your own car is the easiest way to get around, and the only way, if you want to get off Highway 3.

See

 * Take in the mountain scenery in Manning Provincial Park and Cathedral Provincial Park
 * There are some small museums focusing on local history in Princeton, Keremeos and Hedley

Do
There are lots of hiking options in Manning Provincial Park and Cathedral Provincial Park.

Cycle or hike along the Kettle Valley Railway — the trains are gone, but the railbed remains and has been turned into a multi-purpose trail.

Enjoy the chill of the Similkameen River in summer at Bromley Rock, near Princeton.

Cross-country ski at Manning Provincial Park in winter.

Eat
The eastern end of the valley has many orchards and fruit stands, particularly around Keremeos. Stop by in summer and early fall to taste some of the local produce.

Go next
Highway 3A is the gateway to the central Okanagan. From Keremeos, it is roughly a half-hour drive to Penticton and 75 minutes to Kelowna. Remaining on Highway 3 (eastwards) takes you to Osoyoos and the south Okanagan, which has many more wineries and orchards. Further along Highway 3 is the Kootenays.

Heading west along Highway 3 is Hope, which is the gateway to the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Canyon.

title: Similkameen


text:
Simi Valley

Simi Valley is in Ventura County in Southern California. There isn't much in this Los Angeles suburb but it's possible to drive to many destinations in Southern California within an hour such as Disneyland, Hollywood and Downtown LA.

By car
Simi Valley is mainly accessible by car. Simi Valley's main artery, the 118 Freeway (Ronald Reagan Freeway), can be accessed by Interstate 5, Interstate 405, and the 210 Freeway in the east and by the 23 Freeway in the west. The 23 Freeway connects to the 101 Freeway. Alternates to the freeways provide access to Highway 126 in Santa Paula and Ventura.

By plane
Airports in close proximity to Simi Valley are Los Angeles International Airport and Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank. There are several small airports in the area that welcome private or charter flights.

By train

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

Get around
Although Simi Valley has a bus system, the primary transportation by the city's residents is by automobile. Bicycling is gaining in popularity as the city is committed to installing more bicycle lanes and bicycle parking. Walking, although safe, is not recommended for more than a short stroll. Distances can seem deceptively small, but map your distance if you're planning on walking or cycling from point to point.

Go next

 * Ventura - Located on the coast 30 miles west of Simi Valley, Ventura is home to many interesting shops, the historic Mission San Buenaventura, and is the gateway for excursions to the Channel Islands National Park.
 * Ventura - Located on the coast 30 miles west of Simi Valley, Ventura is home to many interesting shops, the historic Mission San Buenaventura, and is the gateway for excursions to the Channel Islands National Park.

title: Simi Valley


text:
Simlipal National Park

Simlipal National Park is situated in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha (formerly Orissa) in India. Total area of the park is 2,750 km2 with a core area of 850 km2. The area is a plateau with various picturesque peaks. Similipal remains open from 1 November to 15 June only.

Understand
Thick green forests, extensive meadows, twinkling waterfalls, meandering rivers, high peaks – entire diversity of nature in one place. It was once the hunting place of the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj.

History
The park was notified as one of the major tiger projects in India in 1980.

Landscape
The park is on a plateau mean elevation 900 m. The Khairi, Palpala, and Budhabalanga rivers originate here.

Flora and fauna
The largest wild life sanctuary in India. Major attraction of the park is its tigers. Other animals such as antelope, deer, neelgai, leopards, bear, crocodile and other wild animals are also plentiful. It is also a bird lover's paradise.

Climate
During summer, the temperature is around 40 °C whereas during the winter it falls to about 14 °C. The monsoon season brings moderate to very heavy rainfall.

By road
Baripada, the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj, on the junction of NH 5 and 6, is 270 km from Bhubaneswar, 240 km from Kolkata and 55 km from Balasore and 16 km from Pithabata, which is an entry point. The other entry point Jashipur is 97 km from Baripada on NH 6. Both places are well connected by regular bus services. Taxis and jeeps are available.

By rail
The nearest railhead is Balasore (60 km from Baripada), served by major trains running on the South-Eastern sector.

By plane
The nearest airports are Bhubaneswar (270 km) and Kolkata (240 km) Direct drive down from Kolkata is preferable.

Fees and permits
You can enter into Similipal through Pithabata (22 km from Baripada). Entry permits can be obtained from the Range Officer, Pithabata check gate or the Assistant Conservator of forests on payment of prescribed fees.

Day visitors can enter between 6AM & noon and visitors with reservation between 6AM & 2PM.

Second entry point is Joshipur. Permits from Asst Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). It is advisable to get permits one to two weeks in advance.

Get around
Local jeeps are available for hire for getting around within the forest.

See
Panoramic view of Barheipani (21:56N,86:23E) and Jaranda waterfalls. The magnificent peaks of Khairiburu and Meghasani dominate the area. Crocodile farm. Glimpse of the tribal culture of the area.

Do
Bird watching, trekking and nature walks.

Buy
Local handloom products, stone carvings and curios.

Eat
Normal Indian fare available at the tourist lodges. Local fare at restaurants outside the forest area.

Drink
Bottled water available. Alcoholic drinks and beverages are prohibited inside the park.

Lodging
Lodge i.e. Saramani and Madhumagna are available at Udala which is near to Devakund
 * Odisha Tourism has a number of Forest rest houses within the forest. Reservation: Tourist office, Baripada, Ph. 06792 - 52553, Fax 56705. or other Odisha Govt tourist offices in the major cities / Assistant Conservator of Forests, Jashipur Ph. 06797–2474. Panthasala at Bangiriposi (35 km from Baripada on way to Jashipur). Advance booking is necessary. Visitors can also stay at Baripada or Jashipur in private hotels.

Stay safe
Use DEET mosquito repellent.

Go next

 * Khiching (149 km from Baripada and 55 km from Jashipur) is famous for the shrine of Kichakeswari. Private buses and shared Jeep are available for Khiching Jashipur which is on NH-6 20 km from Simlipal. There is a Govt Tourist lodge here. During Shiavaratri festival a big market is held in Khiching.
 * From Khiching 2 km down there is a small village (Uttarposhi) famous for black stone work.
 * Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. Haven for researchers, trekkers nearby and easily accessible via surface transport.
 * Other places Chandipur, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konarak, Gopalpur-on-sea, Sambalpur.

title: Simlipal National Park


text:
Simon's Town

Simon's Town (often incorrectly spelt as "Simonstown") is located at the east side (False Bay side) of the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town, South Africa and is home to the South African Navy.

By car
Follow the Main Road (M4) south from Cape Town via Fish Hoek to the Cape of Good Hope along the east side of the Cape Peninsula.

By train

Warning: the information below might be out of date. As of January 2023, there's no direct train between Cape Town and Simon's Town. Coming from Cape Town, you have to change at Fish Hoek, and the train schedules are not aligned, so this change may take up to an hour. Ticket offices at Simon's Town train station are closed, so if you don't have a return ticket, you will have to pay at Fish Hoek after taking a train from Simon's Town.

There is a regular MetroRail service from Cape Town via Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, Wynberg and Claremont. Be sure to buy a first-class (metro plus) ticket; these are not expensive. Although safety on trains has been an issue in the past, MetroRail has put a lot of effort into improving the situation and now the Cape Town-Simon's Town line is considered totally safe and reliable. The journey from Cape Town takes just over an hour. A good option is to buy MetroRail's special "hop on, hop off" tourist ticket. This allows you unlimited travel between Simon's Town and Cape Town for an entire day; you can get off and on at any station. The cost is a very reasonable R20/R25. However please be aware that there is a MetroPlus and a Metro option on the coaches and the corresponding tickets are first and second/third class. There are no obvious differences in the coaches but if you sit in the wrong one you can be fined.

By plane
The nearest airport is that of Cape Town, a good hour's drive away. You can also go on a trip with Civair from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town along the Cape Peninsula.

Get around
Simon's Town is small enough to get around by foot (it takes less than 30 minutes to walk from one side to the other). From the train station to the centre of town is a 10- or 15-minute walk (turn left as you exit the station).

If you really don't feel like walking you can take a "Rikki" taxi. A "Rikki" is a small minibus which usually runs from the train station to Boulders Beach (and beyond if requested). Unlike other minibus taxies, Rikki's do not hoot their horn constantly so you must keep an eye out for them. Their vehicles are unique in that they are obviously a minibus but much smaller in size and painted white (often with an advertisement on the back) and often flash their lights.

A Rikki taxi meets every train that arrives at Simon's Town station. It costs R3.00 to go from the station to central Simon's Town and R5.50 to go to Boulders Beach.

Golden Arrow buses travel between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town, going as far as Boulders Beach, Murdoch Valley, Rocklands and Seaforth.

You can also hire bicycles, including motorised and electric assist bicycles to get around and take a trip to cape point or nearby villages.

Penguins

 * Simon's town is home to a large colony of the endangered African Penguin. The penguins can be seen at a variety beaches along the coast here, the most famous and highest concentration being at Boulders Beach. You need to pay for access to Boulders Beach, however a smaller number can often be seen for free on the adjacent Seaforth Beach.

Museums

 * Along the main road through Simon's Town there are a number of museums on the False Bay side, including the Simon's Town Museum, South African Navy Museum and a Toy Museum.

Other

 * Bronze statue of Just Nuisance (a Great Dane and the only dog ever to be enlisted officially in the Royal Navy) in Jubilee Square. Just Nuisance's grave can be found at the top of the hill above the town.

Do
Stop in Simon's Town and stroll around the harbour and the little shops along the main road. Then have something to eat, before you leave for Boulders, just outside the town (in the south).
 * Swim at Seaforth Beach

Stay safe
Simon's Town is relatively safe compared to the rest of the Cape Town area, however this is still South Africa and so keep your wits about you and keep expensive possessions hidden. Tourists have often been caught out at ATMs here, whilst not often violent, a 'helpful' local changes the ATM language to Afrikaans and then forcefully offers assistance to get your money out - that being the largest denomination offered, which is then grabbed before they run off.

If walking on any of the trails out of Simon's Town, particularly over the top of the hill to the west and towards the Kleinplass Dam, there has been a history of violent crime and muggings as you get closer to the Red Hill Settlement (township).

Go next

 * Visit Cape Town
 * Visit the Cape of Good Hope in the Table Mountain National Park
 * Go to the Cape Winelands and taste wine at a local wine farm.

title: Simon's Town


text:
Simpang Ampat

Simpang Ampat is a town in Penang, Malaysia.

By Car
Exit at Bukit Tambun toll along the North-South Expressway (PLUS)

Get around

 * Bandar Tasek Mutiara is a major township development at Simpang Ampat, along the Tasek road.

Do

 * Lima Kongsi at nearby Valdor has a small hill popular for morning brief hiking.
 * The nearby Batu Kawan stadium is packed whenever there is a football match. In the evening it is the best place to fly kites or play remote controlled cars.

Buy

 * A shop in Batu Kawan sells the famous Tambun Pia (淡文饼)- a type of local biscuit

Eat

 * Nearby village of Bukit Tambun and Batu Kawan is famed by its relatively low-price fresh seafood. Many Chinese restaurants are available along the road to the sea.
 * Hai Hiang restaurant at the junction towards Bukit Tambun is popular for its seafood.
 * Nearby village of Valdor is famous for its charchoal roasted pork.
 * Rather nearby town of Sungai Bakap is famous for its chai kuih.

Drink
A lot of traditional Chinese Restaurant at Bukit Tambun sell very nice Kari Fish (ikan pari) with rice, black soya sauce pork (tau you bak with egg). An old shop right in front of Fish Village restaurant. Service very nice Curry fish. The shop open at about 6am. You will meet a lot of fisherman come for "ta pao".

Sleep
There is a nice little budget hotel called JV Hotel which is located near Taman Mas (not Taman Emas or Taman Tiong Mas)

By Car

 * Through the North-South Expressway (PLUS) at the Bukit Tambun entrance.

By Bus

 * Bus Tickets from Simpang Ampat to other states can be bought at Happy Travel which is the most popular bus ticket agent in town and it is located exactly opposite the Post Office.

title: Simpang Ampat


text:
Simpelveld

Known mostly for the Miljoenenlijn steam train, which originates here, Simpelveld is a small city in the South Limburg region, in the Dutch province Limburg. Also, in 1930 the so-called "Sarcophagus of Simpelveld" was discovered here.

Understand
The town's roots go back thousands of years, known through archaeological finds of the Linear Band Ware culture in the area. In Roman times, it was a settlement on the road from Maastricht to Aachen. The famous sand stone sarcophagus, dated back to 100-200 AD, that was discovered in 1930 most likely belonged to one of Simpelveld's rich female inhabitants, who rather likely lived in a nearby villa roughly located at the beginning of the modern-day Sint Remigiusstraat. As rich as Simpelveld's Roman history seems to have been, the remnants of this time are sadly hardly visible during a visit, and a notable amount of Roman findings from the nearby land are on display in nearby Heerlen as well as Leiden.

The fact that this small town had two different monasteries gained it the local title of "kloesterstedsje", or "monastery town". The second monastery still stands, but since 2018 functions as a museum dedicated to Simpelveld's historical past. The village has an active local community and serves as a centre for daily shopping for neighbouring villages. It receives a fair number of Dutch tourists in summer, who use the town as a base for a visit to the whole of the South Limburg region. The town's direct vicinity is typically South Limburgish, lending itself well to walking and cycling, featuring rather sloped terrain for Dutch standards, as well as hollow ways cut into the rural loess grounds.

By car
Simpelveld is easily accessible through the E314/A76, which connects the town directly to Aachen and Geleen, and gives it a highway connection to Maastricht via the A79. To Heerlen, the N281 is the main connection. Coming from the north of the Netherlands, simply first head in the direction of either Eindhoven or Nijmegen, from where you can follow the A2 and A73 respectively, heading south.

By train
Although the village has a train station, that is now only used for the touristic Miljoenenlijn and has no regular connection to the Dutch railway system. The steam train operated by ZLSM comes from either Kerkrade or Valkenburg. It doesn't have a routine schedule but this is a recommended route if you want to see some of the spectacular views of the hillsides of Maastricht-Hill Country and it would get you to Simpelveld, if coming from one of its few other stations. Sadly, it isn't possible to board a ZLSM train at Kerkrade and use it to get to Simpelveld, so using the train you can either get as close to Simpelveld as Heerlen or Maastricht, from where you will have to rely on buses.

By bus
From Heerlen, either bus 20 or 26 to Kerkrade or bus 21 to Aachen will serve you well, taking about half an hour to 45 minutes to get you from the Heerlen main station to Simpelveld. From Maastricht, take bus 350 towards Vaals and Aachen, getting off in Gulpen, and transferring onto bus 47 heading for Parkstad Stadion. This journey will take about an hour to complete.

By plane
The nearest airport is Maastricht-Aachen Airport, with some international destinations.

Get around
As Simpelveld is a small place, you'll be mostly able to make your way on foot in the center. However, to explore the outskirts or nearby villages, a bike or car is a good option.

See
The town has a few national heritage sites. There are some old farms and a number of religious sites.

Buy
For a real shopping spree you should head to nearby Heerlen or (better yet) to Maastricht, Sittard or Aachen. However, Simpelveld has all the basic shops you would need during your stay, including grocery stores, clothing shops, household goods and stores for cosmetic and personal hygiene items. The town's shops are a combination of modern Dutch chain stores and old-fashioned family-run village shops, some of which have been here for decades.

You'll find most of the shops on and around the Markt, the newly built Kloosterplein, the Kloosterstraat, and the Dorpsstraat (Village street). The Plus supermarket on the Kloosterplein is open M-Sa 08:30-21:00 and Su 10:00-18:00. Het Oude Schoolhuis on the corner of the Markt and Dorpsstraat sells some nice antiques. There's a weekly market on Friday mornings, mostly with fruits, vegetables and other food items.

Eat
For a village of its size, Simpelveld has a good number of places to eat, although several are cheap fries & snacks places. On Mondays and on evenings after 21:30 you might find yourself hard-pressed to get anything else, since most places are closed then. If you're in one of the many chalets, self-cateringen is a good alternative. Nearby Bocholtz has a number of other places and it's easy enough to get to Heerlen, Vaals or Gulpen if you can't find anything you like.

Drink
For a night out with better bars and clubs, many locals turn to nearby Heerlen. Nevertheless, there are a few places where you can go to hang out and have a beer and on the outskirts of town you'll even find a dance club.

Connect
Most places to stay have free WiFi, but if it is offered, don't count on it to be stable or fast. It's easier if you use mobile internet, as the coverage is alright.

Go next
Hopping on the steam train will get you to even more tourist minded places like Gulpen and Valkenburg, but other South Limburg destination are easy to reach as well. Head to beautiful Maastricht for fine sights and food, go indoor skiing in Landgraaf or explore the border area of Vaals. From there, consider quickly jumping over to the impressive German city of Aachen, all just minutes away from Simpelveld.

title: Simpelveld


text:
Simrishamn

Simrishamn is a coastal town in Österlen, part of southern Sweden.

Understand

 * Simrishamn Tourist Office, Tullhusgatan 2 at the harbour.

By plane
The nearest airports are Kristianstad/Everöd (54 km) and Malmö/Sturup (78 km), both with mainly domestic flights. A few miles further is Kastrup with numerous international flights.

From Kristianstad Airport take the Skånetrafiken Express Line 3 to Simrishamn. From Sturup there is no direct route to Simrishamn, but you first have to travel by bus to Lund or Malmö and from there Skånetrafiken's bus/Pågatåg. From Kastrup take the Öresund train with change to Pågatåg in Malmö. Travel time 1 hour and 55 minutes, ticket price for adult is 195 kr.

By bus
Skånetrafiken's Express Line 3 from Kristianstad and Express Line 5 from Lund have many departures to Simrishamn. From Kristianstad it takes 1 hour and 26 minutes, the ticket price for the adult is 63 kr. From Lund it takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, the ticket price for the adult is 93 kr.

By train
Skånetrafiken operates hourly local trains, called Pågatåg, from Malmö via Ystad. Journey time from Malmö is about 1½ hour.

By bus
Bus 591 runs in an 8-shaped loop and connects the city's different areas with each other and with the train and bus station. It is operated by Skånetrafiken in collaboration with the municipality.

By car
Avoid driving in the city centre. Good parking places are located near the station. Best parking is available along Stenbocksgatan. From there you can walk to the centre in 5 minutes.

By bike
Simrishamn is a small town and you have good use of a bike, not least if you want to explore the nature around Simrishamn. However, cycling on the picturesque cobbled streets in the centre is not convenient.

See
The main sights in Simrishamn are the city and its atmosphere. If you are in Simrishamn you usually go around the rest of Österlen to see more.

 * Österlens Museum's home museum, next to the church. Tuesday - Friday 12:00 - 16:00 and Saturdays 10:00 - 14:00. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. During December, opening hours are extended some days.
 * Apotekarns garden, Storgatan 17,, art with garden.
 * Österlens Museum's home museum, next to the church. Tuesday - Friday 12:00 - 16:00 and Saturdays 10:00 - 14:00. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. During December, opening hours are extended some days.
 * Apotekarns garden, Storgatan 17,, art with garden.

Do

 * Swim at the town's bathing area, Tobisvik. Its sand is quite coarse and the sea quickly becomes deep.
 * Swim at the town's bathing area, Tobisvik. Its sand is quite coarse and the sea quickly becomes deep.
 * Swim at the town's bathing area, Tobisvik. Its sand is quite coarse and the sea quickly becomes deep.

Buy

 * Handicraft
 * There are some boutique shops on Storgatan, a little west of St. Nicolai

Eat

 * See Stockeboda Gård in Sleep below.

Drink
There is a Systembolaget near St. Nicolai.

Sleep

 * Simrishamns hostel  (STF) on Christer Barnekowsgatan 10 is a short distance from the city centre and has a toilet and TV in all rooms. During high season (June, July, August) the reception is open daily from 08:30 to 10:00 and 17:00 to 19:00 daily. The rest of the time it is open by agreement.
 * Tobisvik's campsite is a little north of the city with walking distance to the city. Near the campsite there is an outdoor pool and a beach.
 * Simrishamns hostel  (STF) on Christer Barnekowsgatan 10 is a short distance from the city centre and has a toilet and TV in all rooms. During high season (June, July, August) the reception is open daily from 08:30 to 10:00 and 17:00 to 19:00 daily. The rest of the time it is open by agreement.
 * Tobisvik's campsite is a little north of the city with walking distance to the city. Near the campsite there is an outdoor pool and a beach.

Connect
The best place for internet access is the local library.

title: Simrishamn


text:
Simsbury

Simsbury is a town of 25,000 people (2021) in Hartford County, Connecticut.

Do
Simsbury is home to 3 state parks. A quick stop to the social services department on Hopmeadow ave can provide a traveler with much information about the town and local activities.

title: Simsbury


text:
Simunjan

Simunjan is a friendly small town in the also named district of Simunjan, located 65km off the main road between Serian and Sri Aman.

Get in
Take a van from Serian, RM15 per person, or if going by car would take about two and a half hours from Kuching. One possible person to contact is Nora, 019–8398112, who has a van leaving Kuching early, stops at Serian about 9am, and arrives at Simunjan about midday after stopping at a few local villages on the way.

Get around
Simunjan being a small place, the shops, accommodation, food stalls, market, boat ramp, ATM at bank, post office, library and Internet can all be strolled to. The Coal Mines can be reached by flagging down a van (infrequently every hour or so), going to Serian. The mines are at Gunung Ngeli (more a 'bukit', hill, than 'gunung', mountain) less than ten minutes out of town.

See

 * The coal was first exploited in the mid nineteenth century by the James Brooke aided British Borneo company, using mostly Chinese labour. The descendants of these labourers can be met with in the Simunjan area, many of which have inter-married with the Iban.  Rail tracks can still be seen a few kilometers along the base of the hill, down Jalan Sual.  Near this spot, and only a few years after the mine opening, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace stayed here for a few months collecting specimens of insects and orangutans,as reported in his The Malay Archipelago.
 * The mines were closed early in the twentieth century, but reopened by the Japanese during the war. The locals report atrocities and harsh treatment, the source of many ghost sightings.  Many in the area are afraid to visit the mines.  (According to two local reports), over a hundred died in one mine alone.
 * An impressive steam engine belonging to the Japanese can be viewed beside the road into town, just before the hospital.
 * An impressive steam engine belonging to the Japanese can be viewed beside the road into town, just before the hospital.

Buy
The small market has a few local Sarawak fruits when they are in season. These include the tasty olive like dabai (just soak in hot water for a few minutes), tarap (a creamier version of jackfruit), a refreshingly sweet sour red salak and reportedly 'durian hutan' (wild versions of the famed fruit, some with bright red flesh).

Eat
There are many low key places to eat about the main town square, only a few of which are open at night. There are a set of food stalls attached to the market, and another smaller set tucked away behind the main row of shops close to the community Internet.

Drink
On an infrequent pay day, quite a few of the locals will be celebrating over a few beers served at the food stalls.

Connect
"Home Bakery", tel 019–8689789, which are at the foothills just below the mines may be able to put you in contact with a guide. They have an uncle who is most knowledgeable of all the spots where the mines can be found, but he may be off working on any particular day. Home Bakery is located at No 49 Jalan Sual, a road which starts opposite the school. They make tasty red bean buns, which if you are not lucky enough to buy hot from the oven, can always be got from the shops around town.

Go next
Look for infrequent white vans discretely labeled with Serian around the town square in the morning. Nora, 019–8398112, will pick you up in her van from wherever you are staying midday and take you to Serian (RM15) or Kuching (RM?). If you are going on to Sri Aman or further east, ask to be dropped at the junction (one hour, RM10) and there you can flag down a fairly frequent bus. If you are wanting to go to Sri Aman (RM10) this will probably not go right into town, dropping you about 8km from the riverside centre. Hopefully you can from this junction flag down a van going into town.

title: Simunjan


text:
Sinai

The Sinai Peninsula, often shortened to Sinai (Arabic: سيناء sīnā' ; Hebrew: סיני) is the easternmost part of Egypt between the Mediterranean and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, both forks of the Red Sea. The western coast and the northern coast outside of Arish are practically uninhabited, but several Bedouin settlements and tourist attractions dot the eastern coast.

Above ground is a harsh, forbidding and (in summer) brutally hot desert of parched rock. The reason most tourists come here are the vistas underwater: the Sinai coast offers some of the best diving in the world. The region is also important because of its places of importance in the Abrahamic religions.

Towns

 * Most visits are to the tourist strip along the east coast of Sinai, fronting onto the Gulf of Aqaba.

 * is the main city and arrival point, with an international airport. It's a big tourist centre and often feels more like a theme park than Egypt. There's good diving a few miles offshore, in the Straits of Tiran to the east and at Ras Mohammed to the south. The city is in three sections: the historic port around Ras Um El Sid, the main development of Naama Bay, and the newer Nabq Bay north of the airport.
 * is a small mellow town, with shore diving including the famous Blue Hole. It's also a famous place for doing nothing, just watching the colours change over the sea and mountains.
 * is a port, with ferries taking pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, and tourists and trucks to Aqaba in Jordan. There's a straggle of beach camps and small (mostly unfinished) hotels along the highway.
 * is a purpose-built resort 20 km south of the border at Taba.
 * is the border crossing to Eilat in Israel. The strip next to the border post is a duty-free zone with a couple of large resort hotels and a casino.

 * Northwest of Sharm, is the capital of South Sinai Governorate, and people used to have to come here for visa extensions. That can still be done, but since few tourists need visas and there are facilities at Sharm airport, there's little reason to visit. There are some scrappy remains of the Raithu Monastery, but otherwise the town's only claim to fame is as the place where the El-Tor strain of cholera was identified in 1905, in pilgrims returning from the Hajj.

 * on the Mediterranean coast is actually a bigger city than Sharm, but it's off the map for Western visitors. In bygone times it was a resort; but it's close to Rafah on the border with Gaza, terrorist depredations and civil unrest have ruined the amenities, and western governments advise against all travel to this area.

Other destinations

 * : several places are claimed as the Mount Sinai where Abrahamic scripture states that the prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments. It might as well be this one, near the Monastery of St. Catherine. However the area has been off-limits for tourists for several years.
 * Ras Abu Galum about north of Dahab is a nature reserve.
 * Coloured Canyon north of Nuweiba has vivid rock formations.

Understand
Traditionally a land of Bedouins, the Sinai has been part of Egypt since the 3rd millennium BCE, and is the only part of Egypt on the Asian continent. An arid land, it is famous for being the location of Mt. Sinai, where according to the Bible, Moses received the tablets of the 10 Commandments during the Jews' 40-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. Saint Catherine's Monastery, built in the 6th century and still operating, commemorates this event.

In 1967, Israel invaded and took control over the entire peninsula. The Suez Canal, the east bank of which was controlled by Israel, was closed. In 1979 Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty, in which the Israelis agreed to return the peninsula to Egypt. Israel pulled out of Sinai in several stages, including the removal of its settlements which ended in 1982.

The tourist cities are built around previous Israeli settlements. While the original population are Bedouin, most of the staff and workers in this area come from Lower Egypt and especially the canal cities.

El Tur is the regional center of Southern Sinai, which includes Dahab, Nuweiba and Sharm. Al-Arish is the regional center of less visited Northern Sinai, close to Rafah and the border to the Gaza Strip.

While the Sinai can be very hot in the summertime, it can get quite cold in winter, especially in places with high elevations; for example, low temperatures on Mount Sinai average 2° Celsius in January and February.

Talk
As for all of Egypt, the spoken language of Sinai is Egyptian Arabic; the local Bedouin dialects can't be understood even by visiting Egyptians. But people in tourist areas are keen to speak whichever language will earn their next payment, so proficiency in English is widespread in the service sector. They've often also acquired Hebrew for the many Israeli vacationers, and Russian as these plus Ukrainians were the majority of Europeans during the 2010s slump.

Get in
, a long-distance itinerary crossing the region.

Entry requirements
Along the Sinai coastal resort strip, most visitors do not need a visa for trips up to 15 days. This strip extends from Sharm el-Sheikh through Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba Heights to Taba on the border with Israel.

If you are staying longer, or travelling further, e.g. to Cairo or to inland Sinai, you need a visa. It is best to arrange this online, at least seven days in advance: see Egypt. It may need to be multiple-entry if you intend a side trip out of Egypt, e.g. to Petra in Jordan. Otherwise you can get a visa on arrival at Sharm el-Sheikh airport or at Nuweiba sea port.

There are no visa facilities at the Taba land border. If you enter there without a visa and want to travel beyond the coastal strip, you will probably have to go to Sharm el-Sheikh airport for one. There are several checkpoints, so if you try to travel further into Egypt without a visa, you will soon be evicted from the bus.

Separate from the visa, those entering Egypt through Taba must pay ₪102 to exit Israel, and then LE400 to enter Egypt. There are exemptions within the duty-free border zone, see Taba for details of this and other border practicalities.

By plane
Sharm-el-Sheikh Airport is a major international airport with regular, year-round flights from Europe, UK, Russia and elsewhere. From 2015 to 2019 many flights were suspended following the terrorist downing of a plane shortly after take-off from Sharm. In 2020 these were resuming when travel was again blighted globally by coronavirus.

By boat
Ferries run regularly between Nuweiba and Taba Heights to Aqaba in Jordan, bypassing Israel and the tedious extra border arrangements. You need a visa to enter Jordan but can obtain this on arrival in Aqaba.

The ferry between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, axed in 2016, is expected to resume in 2020.

These ferries are operated by ABMaritime. See also Ferries in The Red Sea.

By bus
Buses ply at least daily (insha'allah) from Cairo to Sharm, and across northern Sinai to Taba. The nearest railway station is Port Said but the buses do not call there.

By rail
The historic Sinai railway along the Mediterranean coast once connected Cairo with Jerusalem but fell into disuse as former colonial empires fractured. Parts of the line remained in use until the 1990s but has since been cut of from the rest of Egypt's rail network. However the Egyptian government is rehabilitating the line and possible extending it to Taba. As of 2024 there are passenger trains to Bir al-Abd, west of Arish, which is of limited use to the average tourist.

Get around
Whether you're going from the airport to your hotel, traveling from beach resort to beach resort, trekking up to St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai, or heading to Nuweiba to catch the ferry to Aqaba, Jordan, the trick to getting around in Sinai is to coordinate all ground transport through your hotel.

The east coast road is a good divided highway from Sharm el-Sheikh to Dahab. It's undivided but still in good condition north from Dahab up to the border at Taba, except a stretch around Nuweiba which in 2020 is being dualled and is rough. Traffic is light, but driven furiously.

By taxi
If you're on any kind of reasonable budget, avoid at all costs the local taxis, whose prices are higher than Cairo taxis by a factor of around 10. However, it is possible to use the local taxis if you know the price in advance, and haggle a bit before going inside the car. LE10 should be considered the maximum payment for any taxi inside the cities (LE15 for Sharem).

By minibus
St. Catherine to Dahab: Bedouin Bus runs a twice weekly bus service from St. Catherine to Dahab and back on Tuesday and Friday. Buses leave at 11AM from the parking next to the bakery (opposite the mosque) in St. Catherine and cost LE50 one way. The bus stops in Dahab at Hotel Jowhara (Mashraba street) and Marine Garden Camp (Lighthouse area) and returns to St. Catherine at 5PM from above mentioned stops.

By minibus to Nuweiba: Bedouin Bus runs a twice weekly bus service from St. Catherine to Nuweiba and back on Wednesday and Sunday. Buses leave at 8AM from the parking next to the bakery (opposite the mosque) in St. Catherine and cost LE50 one way. The bus stops at Nuweiba port and at the hospital in Nuweiba city and returns to St. Catherine at 2PM from the hospital and 2:30PM from Nuweiba port.

There are minibuses traveling to and from Cairo, which leave all day, as soon as they are full of passengers, from Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab. In Sharm el-Sheikh, you can find these minibuses at the west end of the taxi parking lot in front of the strip mall in the center of town.

By bus
East Delta bus company: regular cheap full-sized coaches depart daily for points throughout the peninsula from bus stations in Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab. Be sure to check schedules at the bus station, however, because the times are always changing and even hotels can get them wrong. In Sharm el-Sheikh, the East Delta bus station lies about 2 km outside of town on the road toward the airport and Dahab. Call the appropriate East Delta office ahead to check the timings & rates that concern you:
 * Taba: 069 - 3530250
 * Nuweiba: 069 - 3520371
 * Dahab: 069 - 3641808
 * Cairo: 02 - 23428589

See

 * Desert landscapes: Sinai's mountains and desert are spectacular. Rugged mountains made up of different mineral layers, contrasting with golden sand and blue skies. Trees and lush oases provide a beautiful surprise. Recommended is Wadi Ulrada and the Coloured Canyon. But many more little gems including hot springs and pharaonic ruins are also to be found.
 * Sunrises and sunsets: Sun rises over the Saudi Arabian Mountains and the Red Sea are a beautiful sight. As are the sunsets from the Sinai Mountains over the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia - when the sea is calm on a clear day you will see the Red Sea become red!
 * Mount Sinai has several beautiful shrines and ruins, including a synagogue, a mosque, a Greek Orthodox chapel, and the ancient Monastery of St. Catherine.

Do

 * Hikes and desert trips: there are many scenic trails in the mountains, but you need to be in an organised group, or at least have a local guide. All the resorts market day trips and overnight safaris. Best value will be through your hotel or dive centre, as they have the strongest motive to ensure you return happy.
 * Underwater: The Red Sea has excellent snorkeling, freediving, and scuba diving for all levels of experience: it's a great place to learn. The reefs have colourful coral and marine life, while further out are shipwrecks such as Thistlegorm. All the resort towns have dive centres, which may be able to pick you up from outlying accommodation.

Drink

 * Arab-style tea is a great pick-me-up any time of day.
 * Alcohol is readily available along the coast strip. Beware crude Egyptian imitations of western brands of spirits, these are better used to treat fungal skin infections in goats.

Sleep

 * Sharm el-Sheikh is the main area for accommodation in all price brackets.
 * Dahab has budget to mid-range places but nothing plush. North around Nuweiba are a string of budget beach camps.
 * Taba Heights and Taba are aiming upmarket but have suffered from the prolonged travel slump in Sinai; you should get in for mid-range prices.
 * No accommodation inland other than occasional safari overnight camps.

Stay safe
There are Salafist terrorist organizations that operate in the Sinai, so check on current conditions in any area you plan on visiting.

Also, be wary of the usual scams that a visitor might be subjected to in most places with high tourist traffic and a wide income disparity between tourists and locals. Taxis are a common source of complaints.

Go next

 * Regular buses will take you to must-see Cairo and Giza. A further bus or train-ride brings you to raffish Alexandria.
 * Hop on a ferry to Aqaba in Jordan to reach fabulous Petra.

title: Sinai


text:
Sinaia

Sinaia is one of Romania's finest holiday resorts, deep into the Carpathian Mountains. In the late 19th century, King Charles I of Romania chose Sinaia as his summer residence and built the fabulous Peles Castle, which is today the city's best known landmark.

Understand
In 1690 a Wallachian nobleman, Mihail Cantacuzino, built a small monastery on the upper Prahova river and (inspired by his voyage to Mount Sinai) named it Sinaia; a village developed around it. In the 1860s, attracted by the area's wild beauty, Romania's first king, Charles of Hohenzollern, decided to build here a summer residence, which would become Peles Castle (inaugurated in 1883). Soon the place became the favorite resort of the Romania upper class, who started raising their own luxurious holiday villas in the area. Impressive hotels, casinos, modern restaurants and shops followed, which, by the end of the 19th century, turned Sinaia from an obscure village into Romania's unofficial summer capital.

By rail
Getting to Sinaia is made easy by train, since it is on the main line between Bucharest and Braşov. All trains that go to Hungary pass Sinaia, as to those that service Oradea, Braşov and Cluj-Napoca. There are also many trains to and from Sighisoara, Timişoara, Iaşi and Arad. Sinaia is also accessible by intercity coach from Braşov, but train is the better option.

By plane
The closest airport to Sinaia is Bucharest.

By car
Sinaia lies on the National road No. 1 and can easily be reached by car from Bucharest or Braşov.

Get around
The central area of the town where the main attractions are is walkable, but there are also local bus lines that go along the main street, then up towards Furnica (with stops close to Sinaia Monastery and Peleș Castle), and the lower gondola stations. Route map and more info here. You must buy a ticked before getting on the bus, either at the kiosks in the stations, or via the Sinaia Transport phone app. You have to validate the QR code on the ticket when getting on the bus.

See

 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.
 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.
 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.
 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.
 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.
 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.
 * Orchids. The Brasov area has almost 40 species of endemic Orchids that can be seen. If you wish to see them contact the Romanian Orchid Lovers Club, based in Rasnov 20 km from Brasov.

Buy
Most shops are along the main street (Bulevardul Carol I); there are supermarkets (Carrefour, Mega Image), a small mall, and you can also find craftsmen selling handmade objects and local food. If you're looking for souvenirs, there are dozens of souvenir stands (mostly Chinese junk) along the pedestrian walkway leading to Peleș castle (Aleea Carmen Sylva).

Eat
You find several restaurants and bars in the town's centre, but they are more expensive than those in other parts of Sinaia. The Pizzeria "Casa Nostra" offers big pizzas for 15 lei. Also in the hotels one can eat.

Sleep
Being a popular holiday resort, Sinaia has an extensive choice in hotels. Many of them offer great service, with reaonable prices. Last minute discounts are not uncommon.

Stay safe

 * Watch out for pickpockets.
 * There are aggressive stray dogs, especially in the Zamora neighbourhood (other side of the tracks, where the Enescu museum is).

Go next
Head to Bucegi Natural Park for some fabulous views of the Carpathian Mountains. Diham Chalet is a popular base from where to explore the natural surroundings, and also doubles as a winter sports resort. Magura Village, about an hour from Sinaia is another fine base for hiking. It's a quiet, small town and excellent starting point to see the Piatra Craiului Mountains. Brașov is the nearest larger city of interest, and Bran, famous for its castle, is just about 50 minutes from Sinaia. To get further out, Ploiești is less than an hour's drive and an important transportation hub, allowing for easy access to the wider region.

title: Sinaia


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Sinaloa

Sinaloa is a state in Northern Mexico. It is the most important agricultural state in the Federation, which has earned it the nickname "the granary of Mexico". It has the second largest fishing fleet in the country. Culturally, it is known nationally and even worldwide for its typical music, the Banda or Tambora.

Cities

 * — capital of Sinaloa, known as the center of both Sinaloan culture and narco culture
 * — a colorful, bucolic small town known for its natural wonders, one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos
 * — a colonial gem, named a "Pueblo Mágico" by Mexico's Secretariat of Tourism
 * — coastal mining town, spectacular colonial Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos
 * — the agricultural heart of Mexico
 * — quaint 16th century town known for its focus on arts and learning, one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos
 * — city that is the western entrance to the Copper Canyon
 * — lively beach resort, popular spring break destination with a beautiful historic center
 * — river town with colonial character, including a colorful church, with natural parks

Other destinations
Sinaloa is rather like the country of Chile in that it is a long narrow strip of land with ocean on its west and mountains in the east. As a result there are a lot of overlooked beaches and mountain playgrounds for those willing to get off the beaten path and explore a bit.

Understand
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish Empire, the entire region was once populated by the Cahíta, an indigenous ethnic group. The Spanish Empire maintained a very tight grip over the region, and committed numerous atrocities — the Cahita had been largely displaced, numerous tribal leaders were executed for instigating uprisings and rebellions against the Spanish, and many were forced to work as slaves. The state was once a part of Sonora, but in 1830, Sinaloa split to become a separate region.

Throughout much of the 1800s and 1900s, Sinaloa was a very popular destination for immigrants, receiving waves of people from all corners of the world; many Germans moved to the city of Mazatlan and were able to make it a popular seaport, the state was a major source of opium partly because of Chinese settlers, and the state is home to a large community of Arabs, most of whom trace their roots to either Lebanon or Syria.

Sinaloa is widely known as "Mexico's breadbasket" — The state has one of the largest fishing fleets in all of Mexico, it is the country’s leading producer of rice and vegetables, and is the second largest producer of wheat and beans. These factors have helped to make Sinaloa one of the richest and most developed states in all of Mexico.

Since the 1990s, political instability, crime, and the ongoing drug wars have beset the state. One of the most infamous drug cartels in the world, the Sinaloa Cartel, is based here and it has been widely regarded by many as the largest and most influential drug cartel in the world. Its influence in the state is so profound that the state's culture has been influenced by them and even the Mexican government often doesn't have any clue on how to deal with them. As evidence, in October 2019, a major shootout took place in Culiacan in which the government was forced to release a member they captured because the Cartel proved to be too problematic for the government to handle.

Music
The music of Banda sinaloense is the type of music recognized as original and typical of the state of Sinaloa. Its instrumental composition differentiates it from the other musical styles of the country. The dominance of banda music in this region of the country cannot be overstated.

Banda is performed by large bands composed primarily of brass and woodwind instruments. A 20-member band is fairly typical of well-known banda performers, such as Banda el Recodo (the most popular band in Sinaloa, performing since 1938, with many platinum albums, Grammy, Billboard and other awards to their credit).

Norteña music is also extremely popular in Sinaloa. In fact the most popular and widely known norteña group, Los Tigres del Norte, are from the small town of Mocorito, in between Los Mochis and Culiacan. Controversial for their narcocorrida songs that many feel glorify criminal organizations, their music has earned them millions of fans in every corner of Mexico and beyond.

Climate
Sinaloa has a warm climate on the coast; moderately warm climate in the valleys and foothills; moderately cold in the lower mountains, and cold in the higher elevations. Its weather characteristics vary from subtropical, found on coastal plains, to cold in the nearby mountains. Temperatures range from 22 °C (72 °F) to 43 °C (109 °F) with rain and thunderstorms during the rainy season (June to October) and dry conditions throughout most of the year. Its average annual precipitation is 790 millimetres.

By plane

By train
The Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway (el Chepe) connects the city of Creel in the state of Chihuahua to Los Mochis, Sinaloa, on the Pacific Ocean coast. It travels 673 km, crossing the beautiful Copper Canyon.

Get around
The most common ways to get around within Sinaloa are by car or bus.

By bus
The two largest bus stations are in Culiacan and Mazatlan. Both cities have extensive connections throughout the state and to both neighboring and distant states in Mexico. Both also serve trans-border buses to/from the U.S. Both Culiacan and Mazatlan have city bus service with dozens of routes throughout their cities and nearby areas. In Mazatlan, the main tourist corridor between downtown and the hotel zones to the north is served by modern, air-conditioned buses.

 * Central de Autobuses Culiacan (which is also referred to as Central Camionera Millenium and Central Internacional) is a major hub for bus connections throughout the northwest. It's an extremely busy area with terminals in several buildings and a constant flow of buses in an out.
 * Central de Autobuses de Mazatlan is a major bus hub with connections to Culiacan, smaller destinations within Sinaloa, and cities in nearby states. The station is served by a variety of long-distance bus lines including Estrella Blanca, Primera Plus, TAP, Transportes del Norte, and Tufesa.

By car
The main highway through Sinaloa is federal highway MEX-15. It is often divided into a freeway and a tollway which run parallel to each other, but miles apart. The tollway, MEX-15D, is usually newer, better maintained, and runs outside large towns so that it is typically a faster route than the free road (libre). The highway runs from the southern border of Nayarit, north through Mazatlan, Culiacan, and Los Mochis to the northern border of Sonora.

Read travel advisories before taking road trips in Sinaloa as areas under the control of drug cartels change and while popular tourist destinations like Mazatlan remain generally safe, the countryside may not be.

See

 * Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California — a UNESCO World Heritage site, shared with three other Mexican states
 * Tarahumara people. The central, southern and eastern areas of Las Barracas have been home to the Tarahumara indigenous community for hundreds of years. The Tarahumaras or raráhumare (raramuri), as they are also known, preserve many original elements of their culture although they have taken some others from Western culture.
 * Sinaloa is the only place in the continent where the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, "Ulama", is still played, in a handful of small, rural communities not far from Mazatlán. The ritual ballgame was central in the society, religion and cosmology of all the great Mesoamerican cultures including the Mixtecs, Aztecs, and Maya.

Itineraries

 * Culiacán - Cosalá - Mazatlán route

Do
Go to Los Mochis and catch the morning Chepe train through the Copper Canyon to Creel. The first half of the trip is the most spectacular with narrow, twisty passages, mile-high drop offs, and rugged mountain terrain.

Baseball is a popular spectator sport from November through January when the Liga Pacifica (LMP) plays its 82-game season. Four cities in Sinaloa field teams in Mexico's winter-league. Catching a game on a weekend or evening can be a fun way to experience "Americas favorite pasttime" with a dash of chile! Teams in Sinaloa are:

 * Algonderos de Guasave
 * Cañeros de Los Mochis
 * Tomateros de Culiacan
 * Venados de Mazatlan

Eat
Although fish and seafood are an important part of the gastronomic specialties of Sinaloa, it also has typical foods of the state such as

 * Chilorio: pork meat finely shredded and seasoned with ancho chili sauce and other spices, achieving a unique flavor.
 * Sinaloa-style grilled chicken is another specialty that has spread to other places for its exquisite flavor.
 * Mochomo: cecina-type beef is another typical specialty of Sinaloa, in the same way as the papered pigeons, as well as the cut for roasted meat called cabreria.
 * Aguachile: marinated in lemon juice, stuffed with grated cheese, wrapped with bacon or cooked on the grill, not to mention the zarandeado fish.

Drink
Beer is the hands-down favorite drink of Mexicans, especially in the northern states. The beer of choice in Sinaloa is their home-grown brand, Pacifico, which has been brewed in Mazatlan since 1899.

Artesanal craft beers have become popular across Mexico, including brewpubs and craft breweries in several cities and towns in Sinaloa. In Mazatlan, you can enjoy a fresh craft beer at the Navegante Brewery or at Tres Islas. In Culiacan, fresh craft beer is served at Cerveceria Coordinada or at the NSR Brewery. Be aware that the word cerveceria does mean brewery, but is frequently used by mega beer distributors as a name for drive-thru beer stores that don't actually make anything.

There are several distilleries in the Mazatlan area producing mezcal and flavored liqueuers. Keep an eye open for drinks you may not be able to get elsewhere. These include:

 * Osuna - hacienda about 30 minutes northeast of Mazatlan producing 100% agave mezcal

 * Onilikan - artisanal distillery in Mazatlan producing mango and agave liqueuers

Stay safe
Sinaloa is widely regarded as one of the most unsafe states in Mexico, and its reputation as a crime-ridden state has been cemented internationally by the fact that it is the home to several criminal organizations. Outside of the tourist areas of Mazatlán, a healthy dose of caution and awareness of surroundings is prudent. If you feel unsafe or unsettled in an area, practice vigilance and vacate the area immediately. The police in Sinaloa are rarely reliable, regularly corrupt, and outside of tourist areas may aggresively shake down foreigners for cash.

The presence of the criminal organizations may be a magnet for travelers interested in visiting infamous criminal sites. The city of Culiacan is home base for the notorious Sinaloa Cartel and "narcotourism" is a thing there. Although generally safe day-to-day, the city does occasionally erupt in spates of dramatic violence.

Highway 1D between Los Mochis and Culiacan has a reputation for both banditry and corrupt police officers – tourists have been murdered on this highway. The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in Sinaloa is wild country, part of the "Golden Triangle" that supplies much of the world's amphetamines and opiates, and should only be entered with extreme caution (although Highway 40D – the toll road, not the old road – across the range is safe and can be traveled leisurely).

Go next

 * Copper Canyon
 * Baja California
 * Sonora
 * Nayarit

title: Sinaloa