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Svalbard

Svalbard (Russian: Шпицберген, Shpitsbergen or Грумант, Grumant) is a group of islands located between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. The area is sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the main island with all the settlements. The islands are directly north of Norway, and have been under Norwegian rule since 1920. Svalbard's settlements are the second most northerly permanently-inhabited spots on the planet, after the Canadian military base at Alert.

Svalbard is a unique place because of its nature, the extreme northern location and its legal status as neutral Norwegian territory. There is virtually no infrastructure outside a handful of small settlements. About 60% of the area is covered by glaciers, 30% is barren rock and only 10% is covered by vegetation. Svalbard has midnight sun from late April to late August, while winter darkness (polar night) lasts from late October to February. Seven national parks and 23 nature reserves cover 70% of the islands. Because of the delicate nature and threat from polar bears, movement outside settlements is strictly regulated.

Weather is generally cold and above freezing for only a couple of summer months, but relatively mild for such a northern latitude. There is so little precipitation that parts of Svalbard are similar to a desert. Longyearbyen airport is the northernmost airport with regular, civilian traffic.

Svalbard covers about the same area as Ireland and is notably wider than Switzerland, but has less than 3,000 residents in two small towns. There is no infrastructure outside the settlements.

Towns

All settlements in Svalbard are on the main island of Spitsbergen (or Vest-Spitsbergen).

 * (Баренцбург) – sole remaining Russian settlement, population 400
 * – Polish research station, population 10 in winter, around 20–30 in summer.
 * – the "capital" and main Norwegian settlement with a population of 2100
 * – the most northerly civilian settlement in the world, population under 100
 * – a former mining town that has since closed in 2017 due to economic conditions

The other islands of Svalbard are uninhabited and, as they are all nature reserves, generally inaccessible without special permission. The islands can be divided into two groups: the Spitsbergen group of Barentsøya, Edgeøya, Nordaustlandet and Prins Karls Forland, and the more remote islands of Bjørnøya, Hopen, Kong Karls Land and Kvitøya.

Mining towns

 * - abandoned Russian settlement, now a tourist cruise destination with a solitary hotel
 * - fully abandoned Norwegian coal mine since 2020, reachable only by a multi-day hike

National parks

 * – a large bird sanctuary
 * – protects the inner part of Wijdefjorden, Svalbard's longest fjord
 * – another large fjord but on the west of Spitsbergen
 * – home to Svalbard's largest ice-free valley
 * – contains the world's northernmost hot springs
 * – protects many glacially-carved valleys
 * – Norway's largest national park

Understand
Svalbard is the northernmost tip of Europe and, a few military bases aside, its settlements are the northernmost permanently-inhabited spots on the planet. Located between the 76° and 81° parallels, they are far more northerly than any part of Alaska and all but a few of Canada's Arctic islands. In fact, they would be permanently locked in by ice if not for the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, and it is this comparative warmth that makes them habitable. The islands cover 62,050 km² (smaller than Iceland, about twice the area of Belgium), the largest of which are Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Austfonna glacier on Nordaustlandet is 8,492 km² and the widest glacier in Europe, slightly ahead of Vatnajökull in Iceland. Austfonna glacier alone covers an area about 3-4 times wider than Luxembourg. Spitsbergen is the fifth-widest island in Europe and covers an area about the size of Switzerland.

While Svalbard has never had an indigenous population, the islands are inhabited today by fewer than 3,000 people, nearly all of them in the main settlements of Longyearbyen and Barentsburg on Spitsbergen.

The islands are governed by Sysselmesteren på Svalbard, literally if slightly awkwardly translated into English as the Governor of Svalbard. The Governor is a single person appointed by the government of Norway, but the Sysselmestre administration they run is responsible for policing, rescue, environmental policy, visas, weapon licences and basically all public services on the islands.

Norway's welfare system mostly does not apply to Svalbard. Residents are mostly working age (20 to 70) and most have permanent residence on the mainland; working on Svalbard does not qualify you for Norwegian residence or citizenship. There are no old people and in principle it is forbidden to die at Svalbard.

All man-made objects older than 1946 are protected by law and cannot be touched by visitors. For this reason, the area around Longyearbyen, and several other parts of the archipelago, are littered with interesting artifacts including disused mining equipment, bits of rope and shovels. Human graves are often shallow and human remains are in some cases visible on the ground. Remains of animals such as whales and polar bears of any age are also protected.

History
The islands were supposedly discovered by Viking explorers in the 12th century. However the first recorded voyage here was by the Dutch in 1596, landing on the northwest of Spitsbergen. The first permanent settlement was the international whaling base, which was active during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognised in 1920; five years later it took over the territory. However, the Svalbard Treaty gives "absolute equality" to other nations wishing to exploit mineral deposits, and Russia continues to maintain a significant population on the island. Although part of Norway, Svalbard remains a neutral territory.

Economy

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although American, British, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard were essentially company towns. Barentsburg still exists as such, while Longyearbyen has begun to resemble a 'normal' mainland town. The Norwegian state-owned coal company is responsible, both directly and indirectly, for approximately half of the working hours in Longyearbyen. There is also some trapping of seal, fox, and walrus. Tourism has become increasingly important and now powers the economy of Longyearbyen, changing it significantly. Nonetheless, the place is not often swarming with tourists. The third main industry on Svalbard is scientific research and education. UNIS, the University Centre on Svalbard, offers tertiary and postgraduate courses in Arctic sciences, and many countries also run research stations on the archipelago.

Geography
Svalbard is barren, rugged and desolate. Its mountains look like giant, precipitous slag heaps: steeply-piled stacks of rubble, eroded by rain with peaks jutting out at improbable angles. Higher mountains are permanently covered in snow and many valleys are filled with glaciers. There are no trees on the islands and the most common vegetation is a brownish green moss, the colour of dead grass, that sprouts patchily up the mountainsides. However, many Arctic flowers bloom here during summer.

Climate

Svalbard literally means "cold edge", an apt name for this northern land. The climate is Arctic, tempered by the warm North Atlantic Current. Summers are cool (July average 6.1°C) and winters are cold (January average -15.8°C), but wind chill means that it usually feels colder. The North Atlantic Current flows along the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year. The peak travel season for cruises is during Svalbard's brief summer, from June to August, when it's light and not too cold outside. The "light winter" period (March-May) is the high season for fly and stay guests, when there is both sunlight and snow. This period is also increasingly popular for winter sports. March is still one of the coldest months with an average of -15°C in Longyearbyen, though temperatures can drop to -40°C. Summer months are just above freezing on average and temperatures occasionally climb to 15°C.

Weather is often cloudy but Svalbard is typically a very dry area. Fog is common, with April and May being the least foggy months. Annual precipitation is typically around 200-500 mm making Svalbard one of the driest areas of Europe. Some places in Svalbard get less than 100 mm annually, similar to or less than the driest places in Spain. A few places in Svalbard get 1000 mm annually. Precipitation mostly falls from low clouds and depends on the landscape.

Svalbard features the midnight sun from 20 April to 23 August. Conversely, the sun stays under the horizon during the polar night from 26 October to 15 February. In northern mainland Norway there is twilight midday during the polar night, but on Svalbard it is fully dark at least all of December.

Holidays
Norwegian and Russian public holidays apply in their respective settlements, but there are a few local festivals of interest:

 * Polar Jazz, end of January. 4-5 day jazz, blues, and bluegrass festival.
 * Solfestuka, around 8 March. 'The sun festival week', a celebration of the end of the polar night.
 * Dark Season Blues. Blues festival at the end of October. An appropriately-themed way to mark the approach of winter.
 * KunstPause Svalbard, around 14 November. An arts festival timed to match the beginning of the polar night.

Get in
Getting in is relatively expensive and time-consuming, but less so than other destinations at nearly the same latitude, e.g., in Greenland and Canada. Svalbard has no border controls, and citizens of the 41 signatories of the Svalbard treaty (including such unlikely countries as Afghanistan and the Dominican Republic) need no visas or other permits to visit – or even work – in Svalbard. However, most scheduled flights to Svalbard depart from Norway, and as Norway considers Svalbard a domestic destination, you'll need to pass through Norwegian immigration first. In the other direction, Norway reserves the right to check the passports of passengers coming from Svalbard. Svalbard is not inside the Schengen area. People who need a visa to the Schengen area will need a multiple-entry visa to go to Svalbard since returning to mainland Norway counts as entering the Schengen area again. People from the Nordic countries need a passport to Svalbard even if they do not normally need it inside the Nordic countries. Norwegians can for the time being use their Norwegian driver's licence.

By plane
Longyearbyen has the largest airport on the islands, the only one suitable for passenger flights from outside Svalbard. SAS has scheduled flights from Oslo and Tromsø, Norwegian from Oslo only. Moreover there are charter flights from various European destinations.

SAS considers flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo or Tromsø domestic, so an SAS EuroBonus award ticket from anywhere in Scandinavia to Svalbard costs just 10,000 EuroBonus points in SAS Go, and 20,000 in SAS Plus. This little loophole is well-known by SAS frequent flyers and award availability is quite limited, so book well in advance if planning to use this. SAS flights can also be bought over the Internet either direct from SAS or via certain meta agents.

While flights to Svalbard were long rather expensive, fares can be in line with other intra-European flights these days, but early booking and flexibility with dates will help you get the cheapest tickets.

By boat
A number of operators offer cruises around Svalbard in the high season. These are the only practical means of visiting the more far-flung bits of the archipelago like Ny-Ålesund, but they don't come cheap: a typical 3-day cruise starting from Longyearbyen may cost you from NOK13,000 (cheapest cabin, twin sharing). There are also longer cruises, some starting all the way from Oslo, with rates going up to NOK100,000 for a 12-day trip.

There are countless cruise operators, but they all seem to book on the same boats. Spitsbergen Travel runs MS Fram and the MS Nordstjernen (1956), formerly Norwegian Hurtigruten ships. Other small ship favorites are the Antarctica Dream, Ocean Adventurer, MV Plancius, Ortelius, Akademik Vavilov, Ioffe and the Polar Pioneer. Most of these vessels have been designed to plow the icy waters of the Antarctica and have comfortable facilities. While none of these can be described as "luxurious", other vessels such as the Le Boreal, Sea Spirit, and Le Diamant are larger and designed to cater to the luxury traveller. Some operators specialize in small ship cruise options and land safaris, such as Adventure Life. If you want a full-fledged cruise ship, P&O usually also calls a few times a year on two-week trips.

Passenger services to Svalbard are very limited. In the summer there is a cargo ship service from Tromsø once a week. The journey takes 2-3 days and prices are generally at least as steep as flights, but this cannot be considered as a usual measure of transport, as passengers are usually not allowed onboard. Very seldomly, cargo ships also operate from Murmansk to Barentsburg. There is also the Polish sailing yacht Eltanin, which provides supplies for research stations. It sails once a year from Gdynia (usually May); however, the journey takes about 3 weeks.

Get around
Most of Svalbard is protected as national park or nature reserves. There is no infrastructure outside Longyearbyen. Visitors can in general not go around on their own out of Longyearbyen, also for safety reasons.

The only "highway" links Longyearbyen Airport to the Mine 7 via Longyearbyen. It is for the most part unsealed and anyway very short. There are paved streets in the settlement of Longyearbyen and many of the local residents tend to have cars. Snowmobiles are common transportation in wintertime. Visitors don't need a car.

Travel between islands and settlements can be done by plane or helicopter any time of year.

Boats can be used in summer. MS Polargirl runs a mail service several times a week between Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Pyramiden and passengers are taken on these trips. Many people go with an expectation of seeing a polar bear on a boat safari. This is possible, but by no means guaranteed.

Talk
The official language is Norwegian. However, nearly everyone speaks English. In Barentsburg, Russian and Ukrainian are spoken.

See
Svalbard's visitors come mostly to experience Arctic nature at its rawest and most powerful. The islands have untouched glaciers and craggy mountains, but also polar bears, caribou, a peculiar short legged reindeer, polar foxes, whales, seals and walruses. Svalbard is renowned for its variety of birds, including Arctic Terns, Arctic Fulmar and Puffins. Whales can be spotted off the coastlines particularly during late summer. Humpback whales, Orcas, Beluga whales, and Narwhals all frequent the ocean waters near Svalbard.

During the short summer, the melting snow in the milder parts of the islands gives place to vast stretches of tundra vegetation, sometimes dotted with delicate flowers.

Although it is possible to prepare your own excursion while on Svalbard, the lack of infrastructure, the necessity of carrying (and knowing how to use) a rifle outside the settlements, and the harshness of the environment even during the summer make organized activities with professional guides a necessity for most visitors. Activities can be booked online or in Longyearbyen.

Longyearbyen has a couple of museums and the world's northernmost church. The Soviet-era settlements of Barentsburg, still running fitfully, and Pyramiden, abandoned in the 1990s but open to visitors on tours, make offbeat attractions, being home to (among other things) the world's two northernmost Lenin statues. Both can be visited by cruise or snowmobile from Longyearbyen.

Buy
The currency is the Norwegian krone (kr), and this is also accepted in the Russian settlements. Svalbard is a tax free zone so a number of shops in Longyearbyen display various items for sale at prices well below mainland Norway.

Costs
Svalbard is by most measures very expensive: on Svalbard most things costs even more than mainland Norway. Accommodation in cheap guesthouses costs around NOK500/night and sit-down meals are closer to NOK100 each, and both can easily be double if you want to stay in a full-service hotel. Guided activities start at about NOK500 per day (e.g., trekking and kayaking) but can go to NOK1000 and above for tours requiring specialist equipment.

One way to cut costs significantly is to camp and self-cater, bringing all your supplies from the mainland. There is, however, a full service grocery store in Longyearbyen. Frozen and dry goods are on par with or even a little cheaper than in Norway, while perishable items arrive via air freight and are more expensive.

Svalbard's duty-free status means that alcohol and sports clothing, etc. are much cheaper than on the mainland.

Eat
Food on Svalbard is expensive for most visitors, as it is anywhere in Norway. Local specialities include seal and reindeer, served at restaurants in Longyearbyen. Sometimes polar bears are shot (see below) and served to tourists. It is generally accepted that they don't taste particularly good, but the novelty value keeps them on the menu.

Drink
Alcohol is duty-free on Svalbard. If you've arrived from Norway the bars will seem refreshingly cheap but are still equivalent to London prices. In Barentsburg, Russian vodka can be cheap.

A popular party trick for glacier cruises is drinks served with glacier ice, purified by natural processes over thousands of years.

Sleep
A range of accommodation is available only in Longyearbyen, which offers camping, guesthouses and luxury hotels. The camping site is located 300m from the airport and is the only place where camping is permitted in relatively close proximity to Longyearbyen. For travellers looking to bring the cost down it is much cheaper to camp than pay for guesthouses and the camping site is free to use outside season, although the service buildings are locked meaning facilities such as toilets are unavailable. Rules therefore apply to how to deal with urgent toilet purposes, and strict rules are applied to waste disposal. In season the camp site is serviced and facilities available, and it is possible to rent tents. Warm showers cost extra.

Barentsburg, Ny-Ålesund and Pyramiden each have one hotel.

Learn

 * The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). A private foundation run by four Norwegian universities, offers university-level courses in Arctic biology, geology, geophysics and technology.  Several hundred students, half of them exchange students from outside Norway, attend yearly.

Work
Citizens of Svalbard Treaty signatory countries need no permits to work on Svalbard; you can even set up your own mine if so inclined. In practice, work opportunities are rather more limited, although there is some seasonal tourist industry work available during the summer if you have the requisite skills and language abilities (Norwegian will come in handy). The Governor of Svalbard does, however, have the right to boot you off the island if you cannot support yourself.

Stay safe

The biggest threat on Svalbard is polar bears (isbjørn), some 500 of which inhabit the main islands at any one time. Seven people have been killed by polar bears since 1973, the most recent in August 2020, so if travelling outside settlements you are required to carry a rifle at all times to protect yourself. They can be rented for about NOK150 and up per day, but starting 2009, a valid gun license is now required; those without a gun license can apply for temporary permission to rent a rifle: all that is required is to fill out an application form and a certificate of good conduct (i.e. proof of no criminal record) which can be e-mailed to the Svalbard Police Department. Processing may take up to 4 weeks, but has been known to work even on the same day with some luck. However, for most people, it's better to stick to guided tours. Do not underestimate the speed of polar bears (you cannot outrun one). Polar bears can be extremely unpredictable and are far more dangerous than European brown bears. You are not allowed to kill polar bears unless it is an immediate threat to your life.

The harsh Arctic environment also poses its own challenges, particularly in winter. Beware of the danger of frostbite in the face (nose and cheeks), fingers and toes, particularly in low temperatures with wind (such as high speed on snowmobile). Crossing glaciers and rivers can be hazardous and travelling with local guides is strongly recommended. If heading out on your own, informing the Governor of Svalbard about your route and expected duration is highly advisable. For any trips outside central region of Spitsbergen, you must notify the Governor, and may be required to purchase insurance or put up a large deposit to cover possible rescue costs.

Svalbard has virtually no crime, except occasional drunken brawls.

Stay healthy
Tap water on Svalbard is drinkable, but surface water may contain tapeworm eggs from fox feces and should be boiled before consumption.

There is a pharmacy in Longyearbyen and you can buy some non-prescription drugs in the supermarket (Svalbardbutikken). Longyearbyen also has a hospital for treating emergencies.

As there are no maternity clinics on or near Svalbard, women in late-stage pregnancy are discouraged from visiting.

Respect
In most of Svalbard's buildings, including some hotels and shops, you are expected to take off your shoes before entering. In public buildings this will be obvious as a shoe rack covered in dirty walking boots will be prominent at the entrance. Alternatively you may be invited to put on overshoes (effectively plastic bags) over ordinary footwear.

Connect
Normal 4G/LTE phones generally work in close proximity to Longyearbyen and have a good potential to work in big parts of Adventdalen and Isfjorden as well through the operator Telenor Svalbard. As of summer 2024, 3G is no longer available. 2G however is, but is also being phased out. EU/EES roaming agreements should work, if you have a cell phone plan in this zone.

Private wilderness expeditions will likely have to rely on an Iridium-based satellite communicator as no other network has good coverage this far north.

The Internet connection in Svalbard is top class because NASA rents bulk capacity on undersea fiber optic cables running at seabed to mainland Norway for its experiments.

While mail from Svalbard to mainland Norway and the outside world uses regular Norwegian stamps at regular Norwegian prices, philatelists may be interested in the Lokalpost system used for intra-Svalbard mail. Stamps, first-day covers and more are available at the post offices in Longyearbyen and Barentsburg, as well as at Longyearbyen's Svalbardbutikken.

Go next
Svalbard is a popular staging point (at least in relative terms) for launching expeditions to the North Pole. For more experiences of the Arctic north, you can visit Ellesmere Island or northern Greenland, where the world's northernmost land is located.

Fairly close to Svalbard is Franz Josef Land, a largely uninhabited group of islands which belongs to Russia.

If you want to explore extreme Norwegian lands, see also Jan Mayen in the Arctic and Bouvet Island in the Antarctic.

title: Svalbard


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Svealand

Svealand [ˈsveːaˈland] is the middle of the three lands of Sweden, between Götaland and Norrland. It is home to Stockholm, and a mixed landscape, with archipelagos and plains in the east, forests in the west, and snowy mountains in the north.

Regions
Sweden is divided between traditional provinces, landskap, and modern counties, län; sometimes but not always coinciding. These are used interchangeably on Wikivoyage.

Cities

 * is Sweden's capital and largest city.
 * is a skiing centre known for the copper mine in the middle of the city.
 * is an industrial city at lake Vänern.
 * are Medieval cities with a heritage railway and Gripsholm Castle.
 * is a small town in Dalarna, with the home of realist painter Anders Zorn, and the finish line of Vasaloppet.
 * is a medieval city, and the gateway to the world, with the Oxelösund port and Skavsta airport.
 * is a university city with a thousand years of history, back to the Viking age.
 * is Sweden's fifth largest city; founded in AD 990, today known for robotic industry.
 * has an impressive castle.

Other destinations

 * Bergslagen, consisting of Västmanland, Dalabergslagen and Värmlands bergslag
 * Ekerö, Stockholm's freshwater archipelago, contains Drottningholm Palace and Viking Age settlement Birka.
 * Grythyttan, a quaint mining town with a culinary academy.
 * Leksand, known for Midsummer celebration, hard bread, and ice hockey.
 * Siljansbygden, in central Dalarna, is an archetype of Swedish folk culture.
 * Stockholm archipelago has thousands of islands.
 * Sigtuna, Sweden's capital from 11th to 13th century.
 * Sälen, a ski resort.
 * Älvdalen, the northern edge of Svealand, with tall mountains.

Understand
The natives of Svealand named themselves svear, called Suiones by Roman historians. While lake Mälaren used to be part of the Baltic Sea, it was the base of Old Norse culture, and some of the inhabitants travelled far overseas: the Vikings. In the 11th century, Svealand was Christianized, and united with Götaland, to form Sweden, with Sigtuna, Uppsala and later Stockholm as a centre of power. While Svealand can be regarded as a "Sweden proper", it has hardly any role as a cultural identifier today. If Swedish people are ever patriotic, it is usually for their province or city.

In the 16th century, the soon-to-be king Gustav Vasa took refuge in the province Dalarna to avoid the Danes, who had massacred 80 Swedish noblemen on the Great Square in Stockholm. Here he got support from the peasants, and formed an uprising. He contracted German mercenaries, and finally liberated Stockholm.

The Swedish metal industry rose during the 17th century, with aid from Walloon craftsmen. The Industrial Revolution saw the foundation of several big corporations, such as ASEA (now ABB), and AGA. During the 20th century, many small inland towns have been depopulated and deindustrialized, while Stockholm is one of Europe's fastest-growing cities.

Get in
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (Sigtuna), Stockholm-Skavsta Airport  (Nyköping) and Stockholm-Bromma Airport  (Stockholm/Västerort) are major international airports in Svealand.

The airports in Oslo (Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Moss and Sandefjord) might also be useful.

Baltic Sea ferries arrive in Stockholm, Nynäshamn and Kapellskär, from Åland, Finland, Estonia and Latvia.

National rail carrier SJ runs trains from Oslo and Copenhagen to Stockholm.

Get around
There are several rail and bus lines serving the area (see rail and bus in Sweden). Roads are in good condition (see driving in Sweden).

See
Glamorous cities such as Stockholm, Uppsala and Västerås, as well as quaint villages with rich folk culture, and great lakeside views.

Do
Though there are plenty of forests in Svealand, even around Stockholm, the nearest village is rarely more than ten kilometres away. This makes Svealand good for outdoor life, such as hiking, winter sport, and swimming.

Go next

 * Gotland, Sweden's largest island.
 * Åland, a Swedish-speaking autonomous island-province, which is part of Finland.
 * Norway

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

title: Svealand


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Svendborg

Svendborg is a city on the southern coast of Funen. With around 27.000 citizens, it is the island's second largest city after Odense. Svendborg is home to the Naturama museum. It is the gateway to the South Funen Archipelago, with National Road 9 (Primærrute 9) leading to islands Tåsinge and Langeland, and ferries to Ærø and other islands.

Get in
Svendborg is reachable by National Road 9 (Primærrute 9). It branches off the main highway (E20) across Funen south of Odense, which is about a 25 minute drive. The Fynbus' regional bus lines; 121, 162 and 163 mainly uses local roads and takes about 1½ hours. Trains are faster and the locals' preferred choice, which takes 42 minutes from Odense. If you are travelling from Copenhagen, you might want to consider switching to a bus in Nyborg instead, as this might be faster, depending on how long the stopover is.

By Train
42 minutes by regional train from Odense to

By ferry
Svendborg harbour is open to both leisure sailors and commercial ferry traffic, and routes out of Svendborg go to Ærøskøbing on Ærø and to several small islands in the South Funen archipelago. All ferries depart from the ferry terminal at Havnepladsen square.

See

Maritime Svendborg

Svendborg is located at the beautiful Svendborg Sound, and is a good starting point to explore the Sydfynske Øhav archipelago. Several ferries connect to some of the islands from Svendborg, and there are also some pretty veteran tour boats to take you on short cruises in the area.

Go next

 * Ærø
 * Ærø

title: Svendborg


text:
Sverdlovsk Oblast

Sverdlovsk Oblast (Russian: Свердло́вская область sveerd-LOHV-skuh-yuh OH-blust') is a region in Russia's Urals Region. Set right in the middle of the Urals region, Sverdlovsk Oblast borders seven other regions; Khantia-Mansia to the northeast, Tyumen Oblast to the east, Kurgan Oblast to the southeast, Chelyabinsk Oblast to the south, Bashkortostan to the southwest, Perm Krai to the west, and the Komi Republic to the northwest.

Cities

 * — Russia's 3-4th largest city and the principal destination in the Urals
 * — major producer of heavy motorcycles and home to the annual "Irbit Bike Show" and motorcross
 * — formerly a closed town, home to the "leaning tower of Nevyansk" and a neoclassical cathedral
 * — a big industrial city that hosts a few major international arms and industrial expos
 * — site of the monument marking the boundary between Europe and Asia
 * — small town near Lake Talkov, a favorite place of relaxation for Sverdlovsk locals and the site of the Lake Talkov Monument
 * — one of the oldest Russian towns east of the Urals, with a Kremlin

Other destinations

 * Pripyshmenskie Bory National Park

Understand
Sverdlovsk Oblast is the population center of the Urals and the most populous oblast in Asian Russia.

The remote mountainous north of the oblast was the scene of the infamous Dyatlov Pass Incident, in which nine hikers mysteriously died in 1959 with unusual deformities in some of the bodies found weeks later.

title: Sverdlovsk Oblast


text:
Sveti Stefan

Sveti Stefan  is a town in Montenegro. Previously a fishing village, in 1960 it was converted into the old town, with its tower, narrow streets, shops and small churches, remained unchanged.

Sveti Stefan is an unusual and unique place not only at Montenegro or Budva's Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean. It stands on the cliff of a rocky island with roofs red like rubies. A sand isthmus looking like a stem connects it with the land. It came into existence in a unique way.

Understand
According to the memory of people, the town was founded in 15th century. The big Turkish fleet sailed into the Adriatic sea to rob and plunder rich seaside towns, especially those one in Boka. One day, when the weather was bad, that fleet sailed into Jaz beach, a place into bottom of Grbaljsko field, near Kotor. Guards were left on the galleys, which were anchored or grounded on sand, while the rest of Turkish soldiers set off for Kotor, across Grbaljsko field, to attack and devastate it from the land.When Pastrovics heard about this, they quickly gathered their soldiers and went to Kotor by shortcut to attack Turks and help Kotorans in defense of their town. After the victory, on their way back, they attacked Turkish galleys at the beach Jaz. With God's help they managed to kill the rest of Turkish crew and took the conquered galleys to Drobni Pijesak - the beach and the valley where they used to anchored their fisherman's boats and ships - to unload the war trophies there.

Pastrovics have decided not only to divide the rich war trophies but to build a fortress on the rocky island near the coast as well as houses for each of Pastrovic's 12 tribes, and the church decided to St. Stefan the protector of Pastrovics. The fort was made to serve defense against Turks, pirates and other enemies as well as an asylum and shelter: asylum for women, children and old people during the time of enemy's attacks and shelter for food and groceries: corn, oil, vine, meat, honey and others. They drowned the conquered Turkish galleys leaving no trace of them.

This folk tale finds confirmation in written documents where St. Stefan was mentioned for the first time (1442) as an advanced guard house. It is also written that the fort was built earlier and called St. Stefan after the church with the same name constructed at the same time when the settlement in the fort was built.

In ancient documents Sveti Stefan is mentioned by the name of “place of justice” - the pivotal place of Pastrovics township and tribe. This name originated from the fact that the court “Bankada” had been sessioning in it for 400 years. It was usually done at Pjaca, a space in front of the entering gate. Tribal disputes and misunderstandings were solved at that spot until 1929.

Fortress Sveti Stefan achieved a grand rise in the first half of XIX century when it counted 100 houses, three churches, and 400 inhabitants on its small space limited by the sea and the walls. There was no space for more.

At the beginning of XX century it suddenly lost its economic power and political importance. The inhabitants left it. The best men went to war and many more emigrated to America. In 1912 there were 150 inhabitants, and in 1954 only 20.

A group of smart architects and artists began adaptation of abandoned houses in 1954 with help of the communist power who removed the left 20 inhabitants to the land, and as early as 1957 they turned them into a unique town - hotel - the most attractive and the most luxurious hotel complex at the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, intended for tourism of the highest level. Adaptation was done expertly and heatedly so the buildings from outside look exactly as they were before, while the inside spaces were richly decorated and turned into luxurious apartments.

Sveti Stefan, in the 1970s, was popular among celebrities, and among its guests were Marilyn Monroe, Willy Brandt, Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky, Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, Monica Vitti, Ingemar Stenmark, Kirk Douglas, Jonathan Miller and Claudia Schiffer.

It remained the most exclusive resort on the Montenegro's coast until the 1990s, when it fell into decline during the breakup of the former Yugoslav federation.

In early 2007, Amanresorts, a Singapore-based luxury resort operator won a contract to lease Sveti Stefan along with the Miločer and Kraljičina beach resorts for a 30-year period. The island is now closed to non-resort guests.

By foot
From Budva, follow the path from the Slovenska Plaza to the end of the beach and then pass through a tunnel under the half finished and now abandoned monstrosity of development by the Russian company Mirax. From there, make your way through the car parks of the various hotels to the beach of Becici until it reaches the village of Rafailovici. Here, the path continues through a tunnel, passes the Kamenovo beach area and follows the coast to a place called Zoff's fish restaurant. Now the path turns to the left and up a set of steps to the main road. Turn right at the Kusta grill restaurant and walk along the main road for about 300 metres. Before the end of the viaduct there are steps leading down to Przno beach. If you pass in front of the Maestral Hotel, walk through the beach restaurants and go left up the hill at the end of the beach there is a gate that is sometimes open. Oherwise, keep to the left of the Maestral Hotel and go through the arch gate just past the bus stop and taxi rank. Keep walking, and after the next hotel, Kraljicina Plaza, you can either continue along the same road or choose the more beautiful beach path. Both options take you all the way to Sveti Stefan.

By bus
Buses costing €2 operate to/from Budva regularly, with the journey taking 30 minutes. Please note that only guests of the resort (a very expensive option) or those with lunch/dinner reservations (a less expensive but still costly option) are permitted entry onto the "island."

See
The island is closed to non-resort guests.

Do
Although the island is closed to non-guests, the beaches north and south of the island are open to the public. Beach side parking costs €12. It costs €50 to enter the North Beach.

Drink
There are a couple of makeshift outdoor bars on the beach. It's a good idea to bring your own water given the absence of concession stands.

Sleep
There are several small and family hotels located on the coast, near the famous hotel Sveti Stefan, with popular prices, great view, peaceful countryside and all modern equipment. They all settled in an old ambient of hundred years old olive trees and see view from the terraces. All houses own parking services.

Private rooms
There is a village on the coast where you can find very nice apartments in private accommodation. During the summer time a price is about €15 per person for accommodation at a private accommodation, and about €20 per persons for apartments closer to beaches.

Go next

 * Budva
 * Bar
 * Podgorica

title: Sveti Stefan


text:
Svetlogorsk

Svetlogorsk (Russian: Светлого́рск svyeet-lah-GOHRSK, German: Rauschen) is a city in Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It was a seaside resort during the Soviet era. It has a beachfront promenade which is usually very busy in the summertime.

By train
Less than 10 trains per day run in each direction between Svetlogorsk and Kaliningrad. They depart from Kaliningrad Passajirsk and call at Kaliningrad Severnyi next to Victory Square. There's an especially large gap in the morning to reach Svetlogorsk, as there is a train at 07:42 and then only at 13:00. See the website of the Russian Railways for the most up-to-date info.

There are two stations: and. The latter is the closest to the city centre and is the final stop.

By bus
Bus 118 goes between Kaliningrad bus station and Svetlogorsk every 20 minutes. Search this timetable for either "118" or "СВЕТЛОГОРСК" for the exact times. The bus arrives/departs from Svetlogorsk at a near Svetlogorsk 2 rail station. There's also an electronic board showing next departure times.

This bus rides along Sovetskiy Prospekt next to the Kaliningrad Severnyi station and Victory Square in case you don't want to get on/off at the main bus station.

A ticket from Svetlogorsk 2 to Kaliningrad bus station is ₽110 and can also be paid by card.

Get around
Svetlogorsk is quite small, so everything is easily reachable by walk.

Buy
Svetlogorsk is well worth a visit during the summer for the opportunity to buy amber. The streets and promenade are lined with tables covered with amber jewellery and knickknacks, with prices starting at approximately €1 for an amber necklace.

Eat
There are many food and drink stalls along the promenade, but most will be closed during winter except for the Grand Palace hotel. There are still plenty of options in the centre though.

Sleep
By Russian standards there are many hotels and pensions in town.

title: Svetlogorsk


text:
Bavarian Swabia

Bavarian Swabia is in the western part of Bavaria and its borders coincide with the administrative region (Regierungsbezirk), of which there are seven.

Bavarian Swabia is a part of the much larger Schwaben cultural region which extends across borders into the eastern part of the neighbouring Land of Baden-Württemberg, the northern fringe of Switzerland, the Vorarlberg of Austria and Liechtenstein.

Cities

 * - The region's largest city, filled with top-notch amenities, great museum, and good nightlife
 * - Town at the end of the Romantic Road in the Bavarian Alps, home of the famous Neuschwanstein castle
 * - Biggest city in the Allgau region, offering several big city amenities near beautiful landscapes
 * — the Bavarian port "island" city on Lake Constance (Bodensee)
 * - Quaint town with typically Bavarian architecture. Also known for its low-cost airport.
 * - Essentially the Bavarian extension of Ulm.
 * - Essentially the Bavarian extension of Ulm.
 * - Essentially the Bavarian extension of Ulm.

By plane
Memmingen Airport, is a small airport about 4 km from the centre of Memmingen. It is mostly used by no-frills carriers who market it deceptively as being closer to Munich than it actually is.

Munich and Stuttgart airports are close to the region, and most cities and towns can be easily reached by car. For public transportation, you will most definitely need to transfer once or twice.

By train
Most areas have connections to Munich, though frequencies might decrease the further away you go.

Augsburg and Neu-Ulm (just across the border from Ulm) are both well connected by train with frequent departures for Munich, Stuttgart and Nürnberg as well as some high speed trains to places as far away as Paris or Vienna. As part of the greater "Stuttgart 21" project, the line connecting Stuttgart and Ulm is being upgraded, but there is no completion date in sight.

By car
You can take the car to Swabia, but why should you? Gasoline is expensive and (almost) everything is well reachable by public transit. Should you nonetheless decide to take the car the A7 and A8 connect to Neu-Ulm and Augsburg respectively.

By bus
Most of the cities like Augsburg and Kempten have decent bus connections between them and with nearby suburbs. However, a lot of smaller settlmeents tend to only have a few buses per day, and on weekends those may be non-existent.

See

 * Romantic, well preserved medieval old town of Nördlingen with perfectly round town fortification, narrow lanes, and tile-roofed small houses
 * Old town of Augsburg with the splendid Renaissance townhall, demonstrating the pride and wealth of the erstwhile Imperial Free Town, and the Fugger Palace of the most powerful banking family in 16th-century Europe
 * High-medieval Harburg Castle (12 km northwest of Donauwörth)
 * 19th-century romantic-historistic castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau near Füssen
 * huge Benedictine abbey and late-Baroque basilica of Ottobeuren (11 km southeast of Memmingen), dubbed the "Swabian Escorial"
 * Baroque pilgrimage churches Maria Steinbach (15 km south of Memmingen) and Violau (22 km south of Günzburg)

Itinaries

 * The Romantic Road crosses Bavarian Swabia from north to south and links most of its popular historic and cultural sights: Dinkelsbühl – Nördlingen – Donauwörth – Augsburg – Schongau – Füssen
 * The Iller cycling trail along the river Iller that forms the border between Bavarian Swabia and Baden-Württemberg, continued by the Danube Cycleway: Oberstdorf – Kempten – Memmingen – Neu-Ulm – Günzburg – Donauwörth (– Ingolstadt ...)

Do

 * Hiking and climbing in the Allgäu Alps

Stay safe
As with the rest of Bavaria, the Bavarian Swabia region is very safe. Besides a few specific neighbourhoods in Augsburg, certain train stations, and the occasional drunkards on weekends, you can meander around the region without too much to worry about.

The region does get a decent amount of snow during the winter season, more so in the mountains. Therefore, it is wise to watch out for slippery roads and streets, and make sure you are dressed properly.

title: Bavarian Swabia


text:
Swaffham

Swaffham is a picturesque market town in the west of Norfolk. It became famous as one of the principal filming locations for the ITV television series Kingdom from 2007 to 2009.

Understand
The town grew to prominence during mediaeval times based on local agriculture. Historically a town whose prosperity came from sheep and wool and thus the town has an unusually large market place (for the population). Whilst many of the buildings have Georgian and Victorian facades on older mediaeval buildings.

By road
Swaffham is near the crossroads of the west–east (Kings Lynn (15 miles) to Norwich (30 miles)) A47 and the south-north A1065 (London, Cambridge and Newmarket to Fakenham and North Norfolk). These two busy routes provide Swaffham with a large volume of passing trade and travellers, especially at weekends and during the summer months.

By bus
Swaffham's most frequent and important bus connection is the Excell X1 regional bus. Services call every half hour (Monday to Saturday) or hourly (Sundays) in both directions:

 * X1 westbound towards Kings Lynn, Wisbech, Peterborough bus station, Peterborough railway station and most villages en route.
 * X1 eastbound towards Dereham, Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and most villages en route.

Passengers travelling by train to or from Peterborough can buy a through rail ticket to/from Swaffham on the X1 bus, thereby saving on the combined cost of train and bus tickets.

Swaffham has daily National Express service on two routes:

and
 * NX308 westbound towards Kings Lynn, Wisbech, Peterborough, Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham.
 * NX308 eastbound towards Dereham, Norwich and Great Yarmouth.
 * NX496 southbound towards Mundford, Brandon, Mildenhall, Stratford (London) and London.
 * NX496 northbound towards Dereham, Fakenham, Holt, Sheringham and Cromer.

Details of additional rural bus routes between Swaffham and neighbouring towns and villages can be found on the website of Traveline East Anglia or by calling the National Traveline service on 0870-608-2-608.

By train
There are stations on different lines, approximately equidistant to Swaffham.

 * Downham Market is 25 km (15 miles) west, for services north to Kings Lynn and south Ely, Cambridge and London King's Cross.
 * Brandon 25 km (15 miles) south, for services east to Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham and Norwich and west to Ely and Cambridge. Cross country trains from the northwest and midlands do not stop at Brandon, but they do stop at Thetford, which is just a few miles further away from Swaffham than Brandon.

Get around
Swaffham is small enough to be easily explored on foot. There are a number of public transport options within the town, but not train services.

Connect
Swaffham and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Sept 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Blakeney (Norfolk) with Blakeney Point Seal Colony and Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Nature Reserve
 * Hunstanton
 * Wells-next-the-Sea with its oysters and its seal-watching trips.
 * King's Lynn
 * Dereham
 * Thetford
 * Fakenham

title: Swaffham


text:
Swahili phrasebook

Swahili (Kiswahili), is an official language of Tanzania, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Swahili speakers can also be found in surrounding countries, such as Burundi, Rwanda, and Mozambique. While Swahili is primarily spoken natively along the coast and islands of Kenya and Tanzania, it is the lingua franca across all of Tanzania, most of Kenya, eastern DRC, and some parts of Uganda, making it the most widely spoken African language in the world. As a part of the Bantu language family, Swahili is related to a variety of languages from Southern Africa to Central to West Africa. While the vast majority of Bantu languages are tonal, and a few like Xhosa and Zulu also incorporate clicks into their phonetics, Swahili does not use clicks or tones, so pronunciation is generally not difficult for English speakers.

Vowels
Swahili has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. If you are familiar with Spanish, Italian or Japanese, the vowels are pronounced the same. If not, they are pronounced:

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father") E - eh (Like the "e" in "ten") I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see") O - oh (Like the "o" in "so" but without moving your mouth) U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Vowels in Swahili always make the same sounds, even when combined with other vowels. There are no silent letters or diphthongs in Swahili, so vowels will always make the same sound, and it is important that you pronounce each vowel, even when one vowel follows another. For example, in the word "daawa" (lawsuit), you must say "dah-ah-wah", pronouncing both of the a's. Simply saying "dah-wah" (dawa) changes the meaning to "drug/medicine".

There are no diphthongs in Swahili; however, foreign names and loan words may contain them.

Consonants
The following consonants are pronounced the same as in English:

 * b : like the "b" in "bay"
 * d : like the "d" in "dog"
 * f : like the "f" in "fun"
 * g : like the "g" in "gut"
 * h : like the "h" in "hen"
 * j : like the "j" in "jam"
 * k : like the "k" in "kit"
 * l : like the "l" in "lump"
 * p : like the "p" in "pot"
 * s : like the "s" in "sun"
 * t : like the "t" in "tip"
 * v : like the "v" in "van"
 * w : like the "w" in "win"
 * y : like the "y" in "yellow"
 * z : like the "z" in "zebra"

Other consonants
 * m : like the "m" in "mop".
 * n : like the "n" in "numb"

Although "m" and "n" are pronounced the same in Swahili as they are in English, unlike English, these letters can often be found at the beginning of words followed by other consonants, such as "t", "d", etc. Since Swahili has no silent letters, it is important to pronounce these sounds. So for words like "Mchana" (afternoon) and "Ndugu" (sibling/relative), you need to pronounce the "m" and "n" sounds along with the following consonant sounds.

 * r : The "r" sound is rolled as it is in Spanish.

Consonant pairings

 * ch : like the "ch" in "chat"
 * ng : like the "ng" in "sing"
 * ny : like the "ni" in "onion"
 * gh : officially pronounced similar to the "ch" in "loch", you can alternatively just pronounce it with a hard "g", like the "g" in "gut" (as mentioned above)
 * sh : like the "sh" in "dash"
 * th : like the "th" in "thank". It is never pronounced like the "th" in "those". That "th" is spelled "dh" in Swahili.
 * dh : like the "th" in "the". It is important not to confuse "dh" with the Swahili "th" above. Sometimes pronounced as a "z" sound depending on the dialect.

Basics
Note that greetings in Swahili are very important and long and drawn out - you can go back and forth several times, using not one but all of the greetings you know.
 * Hello (to one person) : Jambo (response: Sijambo)
 * Hello (to a group) : Hamjambo (response: Hatujambo)
 * Hello to an older person or authority figure.
 * Shikamoo (response: Marahaba). Typically only used in traditional settings.

 * Hello (informal) : Mambo vipi? (How are things?)
 * Response to informal hello : Mzuri (good), Safi (clean/in order), Poa (cool), Poa kichizi kama ndizi (crazy cool like a banana)
 * How are you? : Habari yako? (Your news?)
 * How are you? (alternative): Ukoje? (response: niko salama)
 * How are you? (alternative): U hali gani? (What's your condition?)
 * How are you today? : Habari za leo?
 * How are you this morning? : Habari za asubuhi?
 * How are you this afternoon? : Habari za mchana?
 * How are you this evening? : Habari za jioni?
 * How was your journey / trip / safari? : Habari za safari?
 * Fine, thank you. : Nzuri, asante.
 * What is your name? : Jina lako nani?
 * My name is ______ . : Jina langu ______.
 * Where are you from? : Unatoka wapi?
 * I am from _______. : Ninatoka  _______.
 * Please. : Tafadhali.
 * Thank you (very much). : Asante (sana).
 * You're welcome. : Karibu.
 * Yes. : Ndiyo.
 * No. : Hapana.
 * I don't need. (Polite way of saying you don't want to buy anything) : Sihitaki.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Samahani.
 * I'm sorry (in the sense of "pardon me"; used for minor transgressions). : Samahani.
 * I'm sorry (in the sense of "please forgive me for wronging you"; used for major transgressions). : Nasikitika.
 * Goodbye : Kwaheri.
 * Good night. : Usiku mwema.
 * Sleep well. : Lala Salama.
 * Did you sleep well? : Umelalaje?
 * Umeamkaje (lit.: did you wake up well?)

Grammatically, this would depend on the noun class of the object in question. E.g. for bathroom, it would be "kiko", not "iko". There are 18 noun classes in Swahili, but sticking with the root "iko" in this case should still be understood.
 * See you later. : Tuonane baadaye.
 * Later. : Baadaye.
 * See you tomorrow. : Tutuonana kesho.
 * My Swahili is terrible : Kiswahili changu ni kibaya sana.
 * I can't speak Kiswahili. : Siwezi kuongea Kiswahili.
 * I only speak a little Kiswahili. : Ninaongea Kiswahili kidogo tu.
 * Do you speak English? : Unaongea Kiingereza?
 * Bathroom : Bafu
 * Toilet : Choo
 * Help! : Msaada!
 * Where is the _______? : _____(e.g. bathroom, police station...) iko wapi?

Problem(s)

 * Leave me alone. : Uniache!
 * Don't touch me! : Usiniguse!
 * I'll call the police. : Nitaita polisi!
 * Police! : Polisi!
 * Stop, thief! : Simama, mwizi!
 * I need your help. : Naomba msaada.
 * I'm lost. : Nimepotea.
 * I lost my bag. : Nimepoteza mfuko wangu.
 * I lost my wallet. : Nimepoteza pochi.
 * I'm sick. : Mimi ni mgonjwa.
 * I've been injured. : Nimeumia
 * I need a doctor. : Nahitaji daktari.
 * Can I use your phone? : Naomba kutumia simu yako?
 * No Problem. : Hakuna matata.

Numbers

 * One. : Moja
 * Two. : Mbili
 * Three. : Tatu
 * Four. : Nne
 * Five. : Tano
 * Six. : Sita
 * Seven. : Saba
 * Eight. : Nane
 * Nine. : Tisa
 * Ten. : Kumi
 * Eleven. : Kumi na moja ("Ten and one")
 * Twenty. : Ishirini
 * Thirty. : Thelathini
 * Forty. : Arobaini
 * Fifty. : Hamsini
 * Sixty. : Sitini
 * Seventy. : Sabini
 * Eighty. : Themanini
 * Ninety. : Tisini
 * One Hundred. : Mia moja
 * One Thousand. : Elfu moja
 * One Hundred Thousand. : Laki moja
 * One Million. : Milioni Moja

Time

 * now : Sasa
 * later : Baadaye
 * before : Kabla ya
 * after : Baada ya
 * morning : Asubuhi
 * afternoon : Mchana
 * evening : Jioni
 * night : Usiku

Clock time

 * What time is it? : Saa ngapi?

In Swahili, counting the time does not begin from midnight and instead begins from 6:00 AM. As a result, what's literally translated as second hour (saa mbili) refers to 8:00 AM. Time is still split between twelve hour morning and night segments, so to be specific the words for morning or afternoon (asubuhi or mchana) and night (usiku) will be appended when necessary (i.e saa mbili usiku is 8:00 PM).

 * 7:00 AM : saa moja asubuhi (lit. first hour morning)
 * 7:15 AM : saa moja na robo asubuhi (lit. first hour and quarter morning)
 * 7:20 AM : saa moja na dakika ishirini asubuhi (lit. first hour and minutes twenty morning)
 * 7:30 AM : saa moja na nusu asubuhi (lit. first hour and half morning)
 * 7:45 AM : saa mbili kasorobo asubuhi (lit. second hour minus quarter morning)
 * 7:50 AM : saa mbili kasoro dakika kumi asubuhi (lit. second hour minus minutes ten morning)
 * 8:00 AM : saa mbili asubuhi
 * 9:00 AM : saa tatu asubuhi
 * 12:00 PM : saa sita asubuhi
 * 1:00 PM : saa saba mchana
 * 2:00 PM : saa nana mchana
 * 6:00 PM : saa kumi na mblili mchana (lit. twelfth hour afternoon)
 * 7:00 PM : saa moja usiku (lit. first hour night)
 * 8:00 PM : saa mbili usiku
 * 9:00 PM : saa tatu usiku
 * 12:00 AM : saa sita usiku

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : dakika _____
 * _____ hour(s) : saa (masaa) _____
 * _____ day(s) : siku _____
 * _____ week(s) : wiki _____
 * _____ month(s) : mwezi (miezi) _____
 * _____ year(s) : mwaka (miaka) _____

Days
In Swahili, the first day of the week is Saturday. The name of Saturday combines juma (week) and mosi (one/first). You can think of it as meaning "the first of the week". The other days are the same, with the exception of Thursday and Friday, which do not follow the pattern.

 * Saturday : Jumamosi
 * Sunday : Jumapili
 * Monday : Jumatatu
 * Tuesday : Jumanne
 * Wednesday : Jumatano
 * Thursday : Alhamisi
 * Friday : Ijumaa

Months

 * Month : mwezi

In Tanzania, the words in parentheses are rarely used. Instead, they refer to them as first month, second month, etc.

 * January : Mwezi wa kwanza (Januari)
 * February : Mwezi wa pili (Februari)
 * March : Mwezi wa tatu (Machi)
 * April : Mwezi wa nne (Aprili)
 * May : Mwezi wa tano (Mei)
 * June : Mwezi wa sita (Juni)
 * July : Mwezi wa saba (Julai)
 * August : Mwezi wa nane (Agosti)
 * September : Mwezi wa tisa (Septemba)
 * October : Mwezi wa kumi (Oktoba)
 * November : Mwezi wa kumi na moja (Novemba)
 * December : Mwezi wa kumi na mbili (Desemba)

Seasons
Swahili-speaking countries generally experience two seasons: rainy-and-hot and cold-and-dry. Swahili does not have words for "autumn" or "spring", etc.
 * Season : majira
 * summer : kiangazi
 * winter : majira ya baridi
 * spring : majira ya machipuko
 * fall  : majira ya majani kupukukika

Colors

 * black : nyeusi
 * blue : kibuluu
 * brown : kahawia
 * colours : rangi
 * gray : kijivu
 * green : kijani
 * orange : machungwa
 * pink : waridi
 * purple : urujuani
 * red : nyekundu
 * white : nyeupe
 * yellow : njano

Bus and train

 * Minibus (Kenya, Uganda) : Matatu
 * Minibus (Tanzania) : Daladala
 * Passenger : Abiria
 * How much is a ticket to _____? : Tikiti kuenda ____ pesa ngapi?
 * One ticket to _____, please. : Naomba tikiti moja kuenda ____.
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Treni/basi hii inakuenda wapi?
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Treni/basi itakuenda ____?
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Treni/basi itaondoka kwa ____ lini?
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Treni/basi itafika _____ lini?

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : Je, ninakuenda ____ ?
 * I want to go to ____ : Ninataka kuenda  ____
 * Which direction? : Mwelekeo upi?
 * ...the train station? : stesheni cha treni?
 * ...the bus station? : stesheni cha basi?
 * ...the airport? : uwanja wa ndege?
 * ...downtown? : mjini?
 * Town center : Katikati ya mjini
 * ...the youth hostel? : hosteli ya vijana?
 * ...the _____ hotel? : hoteli _____ ? (note "hoteli" can also refer to restaurants)
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British embassy? : ubalozi wa Marekani/Canada/Australia/Uingereza
 * Embassy : Ubalozi
 * Consulate : Balozi ndogo (but probably better to ask for "Ubalozi")

 * Where are there a lot of... : Wapi kuna mengi ya ...
 * ...hotels? : hoteli?
 * ...restaurants? : restorenti? (also "migahawa")
 * ...bars? : baa?
 * ...clubs : kilabu?
 * ...sites to see? : maeneo ya kuona?
 * Can you show me on the map? : Unaweza nionyesha katika ramani? (Note that maps are not widely used or understood. Street names and directions are less frequently used than local landmarks, which you will need to learn for each area. Bus stations, bus stops, hotels, monuments, churches, and other establishments typically constitute recognized landmarks.)
 * Where is it on the map? : Iko wapi katika ramani?
 * street : streeti
 * highway : barabara
 * Turn left. : Pinda kushoto
 * Turn right. : Pinda kulia
 * left : kushoto
 * right : kulia
 * straight ahead : moja kwa moja
 * towards the _____ : ukielekea _____
 * close to _____ : karibu na _____
 * past the _____ : baada ya ____/pita ya _____
 * before the _____ : kabla ya _____
 * Watch for the _____. : angalia kwa _____.
 * intersection : kona
 * north : kaskazini

 * south : Kusini

 * east : mashariki

 * west : magharibi

 * uphill : juu mlima

 * downhill :chini mlima

 * taxi
 * teksi

 * Take me to _____, please.
 * Nipeleke _____, tafadhali.
 * Nipeleke _____, tafadhali.

 * How much does it cost to get to _____? :Itakuwa pesa ngapi kuenda _____?

 * Take me there, please. :Nipeleke huko, tafadhali.

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : Vyumba vipo?
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : Chumba cha mtu moja/watu wawili ni bei gani ?
 * Does the room come with... : Chumba kina ...?
 * ...bedsheets? : shuka
 * ...a bathroom? : bafuni
 * ...toilet? :choo (pronounced "cho")
 * ...shower?: bafu ya manyunyu
 * ...a telephone? : simu
 * ...internet? : intaneti
 * ...a TV?
 * runinga

 * May I see the room first? : Naweza kukiona chumba kwanza?
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Kuna nafasi kimya zaidi?
 * ...bigger? : kikubwa?
 * ...cleaner? : kisafi?
 * ...cheaper? : bei nafuu?
 * OK, I'll take it. : Sawa basi, nitakichukua.
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : nitakitumia usiku ____.
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Je, unaweza kupendekeza hoteli nyingine?
 * Do you have a safe? (...)
 * ...lockers? : Je! una kabati salama?
 * Is breakfast/supper included?:Chakula cha asabuhi/Chakula cha jioni kinajumuishwa?
 * What time is breakfast/supper? :Chakula cha asabuhi ni saa ngapi?:Chakula cha jioni ni saa ngapi?
 * Please clean my room. : Tafadhali safisha chumba changu.
 * Can you wake me at _____? :Je, unaweza kuniamsha saa _____?
 * I want to check out. : Ninataka kuondoka.

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Munapokea dola za Marekani/ Australia/ Kanada?
 * Do you accept British pounds? : Munapokea pauni za Uingereza?
 * Do you accept credit cards? : Je, unakubali kadi za Benki
 * Can you change money? : Unaweza kubadilia pesa?
 * Where can I get money changed? : Ninaweza kubadilisha pesa wapi?
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Je, unaweza kunibadilisha hundi ya msafiri?
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Je, ni wapi ninaweza kubadilisha hundi ya msafiri?
 * What is the exchange rate? : Kiwango cha ubadilishaji pesa ni nini?
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? :Ni wapi naweza pata mashine ya kutoa pesa kiotomatiki?

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : Meza kwa mtu moja/watu wawili, tafadhali.
 * We are two/three/four. : Tuko wawili/watatu/wanne.
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : Ninaweza kuangalia menu, tafadhali.
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : Ninaweza kuona jikoni?
 * Is there a house specialty? : Je, kuna utaalam wa nyumba?
 * Is there a local specialty? : Je, kuna utaalam gani uku?
 * I'm a vegetarian. : Mimi ni mla mboga
 * Vegetarian food : Chakula mboga mboga
 * I don't eat pork. : Sili nyama ya nguruwe
 * I don't eat beef. : Sili nyama ya n'gombe
 * I don't eat goat. : Sili nyama ya mbuzi
 * I only eat kosher food. : Ninakula chakula halali tu.
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : Punguza mafuta/siagi/
 * No bones. : Bila mafupa
 * fixed-price meal : bei maalum ya cakula
 * a la carte : tarifa
 * breakfast : kifungua kinywa / chakula cha asubuhi
 * lunch : chakula cha mchana
 * Food :  Chakula
 * tea : chai
 * supper : chakula cha jioni
 * I want _____. : Ninataka
 * I request _____. : Naomba _____. (more polite than 'I want', especially in Tanzania)
 * I want a dish containing _____. : nahitaji chakula iliyo na _____.

 * Banana :  Ndizi
 * Goat :  Mbuzi
 * chicken : Kuku
 * beef : Ng'ombe
 * fish : Samaki
 * ham : Mnyama la Nguruwe
 * sausage : soseji
 * cheese : Jibini
 * Egg/eggs : Yai/Mayai
 * salad : Saladi
 * (fresh) vegetables : Mboga (singular), Maboga (plural)
 * Fresh : freshi
 * (fresh) fruit : Mtunda (singular), Matunda (plural)
 * bread : Mkate
 * toast : Tosti (but there is a brand of bread called 'Tosti' so you will also find a 'Toasted toast' entry on some menus!)
 * noodles/pasta : Tambi (invariably, spaghetti unless you are in a specialist restaurant)
 * rice : Wali (cooked rice), Mchele (uncooked) Mpunga (rice plant)
 * beans : Maharage
 * May I have a glass of _____? : Ninaomba glasi moja ya ____.
 * May I have a cup of _____? : Ninaomba kikombe kimoja cha ____.
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : Ninaomba chupa moja ya ____.
 * coffee : Kahawa (this will usually be instant coffee. It's rare to find real coffee except in specialist establishments or those frequented by tourists)
 * tea (drink) : Chai
 * spiced tea : Chai ya masala (tea is often spiced with masala mix or ginger
 * Tea with milk : Chai ya maziwa
 * Tea without milk : Chai ya rangi (literally, 'tea with color')
 * juice : juisi
 * (bubbly) water : Maji
 * water : Maji
 * beer : Pombe, Bia (Pombe often refers to a local brew and many of these are unsafe to drink. Better to ask for a beer by brand name or ask 'Bia gani ipo?', 'What beers do you have?'
 * red/white wine : Mvinyo/wini nyekundu/nyeupi

 * May I have some _____? : Ninaomba
 * salt : Chumvi
 * black pepper : pilipili manga
 * butter : Siagi (But you are likely to get margarine, at best. You will probably need to ask for margarine by a brand name, such as 'Blue Band')

 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Samahani/ebu (the latter is less formal)
 * Excuse me, waiter? (to a waiter, 'Kaka', to a waitress, 'Dada')
 * I'm finished. : Nimemaliza
 * It was delicious. : Chakula ni kitamu
 * Please clear the plates. : Uondoe masahani tafadhali
 * The check, please. : Naomba bili, tafadhali

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : Pombe ipo?
 * Is there table service? :Je, kuna huduma ya mezani?
 * A beer/two beers, please. : Bia moja/mbili, tafadhali.
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : Glasi mvinyo/wini nyekundu/nyuepi, tafadhali
 * A pint, please. : (Pint measure is not used in East Africa, bottles are usually half litre, sometimes 375ml. People order by the bottle and if there are two sizes, they say 'kubwa' for large or 'ndogo' for small.
 * A bottle, please. : Chupa moja, tafadhali.
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : _____ (pombe ya lika kali) na _____ (kichanganyaji), tafadhali.
 * whiskey : Whiskey
 * vodka : Vodka
 * rum :
 * water : Maji
 * club soda : soda ya klabu
 * tonic water : maji ya tonic
 * orange juice : juici/maji ya machungwa
 * Coke (soda) : Koka
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : Snaki ipo?
 * One more, please. : Moja nyingine, tafadhali
 * Another round, please. : zikaze kwamara nyingine, tafadhali
 * When is closing time? : Saa ya kufunga ni lini?
 * Cheers! : Maisha marefu

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : Kuna hii ya kunitosha?
 * How much is this? :Pesa ngapi?
 * That's too expensive. : Ni ghali mno.
 * Would you take _____? : Utakubali-
 * expensive : Ghali
 * cheap : Rahisi
 * I can't afford it. : Sina pesa za kutosha
 * I don't want it. : Sitaki
 * You're cheating me. :Hii ni bei Mzungu ("this is the foreigner price")
 * I'm not interested. : Sipendezwi
 * OK, I'll take it. : Sawa, nitachukua.
 * Can I have a bag? : Nipe mfuko mmoja tafadhali.
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : Je, unasafirisha (nje ya nchi)?
 * I need... : Ninahitaji
 * ...toothpaste. : Dawa ya meno
 * ...a toothbrush. : Mswaki
 * ...tampons. :
 * ...soap. : Sabuni
 * ...shampoo. :shampoo ya nywele
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : dawa ya kupambana na maumivu
 * ...cold medicine. : Dawa ya mafua
 * ...stomach medicine. : Dawa ya tumbo
 * ...a razor. : wembe
 * ...an umbrella. : Mwavuli
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ...mafuta ya kuzuia Jua
 * ...a postcard. : ...kadi ya posta.
 * ...postage stamps. : stempu
 * ...batteries. : makaa
 * ...writing paper. : Karatasi ya kuandika
 * ...a pen. : Kalamu
 * ...English-language books. : Kitabu cha Kiingereza (singular) / Vitabu vya Kiingereza (plural)
 * ...English-language magazines. : ...magazeti ya kiingereza.
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : Gazeti la Kiingereza
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : Kamusi ya Kiingereza

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : Ninataka kukodi gari.
 * Can I get insurance? : Ninaweza kupata bima?
 * stop (on a street sign) : Simama
 * one way : njia moja
 * yield :
 * no parking : Hairuhusiwi kuegesha (parking not permitted)
 * speed limit : kikomo cha kasi
 * Slow down : Punguza mwendo
 * gas (petrol) station : Stesheni/stesheni ya mafuta/stesheni ya mafuta ya gari
 * petrol : Mafuta/mafuta ya gari
 * diesel :dizeli

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : sijafanya kitu kibaya
 * It was a misunderstanding. : ilikuwa ni kutokuelewana.
 * Where are you taking me? : Ni wapi munanipeleka?
 * Am I under arrest? : Je, mimi chini ya kukamatwa?
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. :Mimi ni... mMarekani/ wa Australia/ wa Uingereza/ mCanada
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : Nahitaji kuzungumza na ubalozi wa Marekani/ Australia/Uingereza/ Kanada.
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : Nataka kuogea na wakili
 * Can I just pay a fine now? :Je, ninaweza kulipa faini sasa hivi?

Country and territory names

 * United States : Marekani
 * Canada : Kanada
 * Mexico : Meksiko
 * Brazil : Brazil

 * United Kingdom : Uingereza
 * Ireland : Eire, Ayalandi
 * Russia : Urusi
 * France : Ufaransa
 * Netherlands : Uholanzi
 * Germany : Udachi, Ujerumani
 * Italy : Italia

 * Kenya : Kenya
 * Tanzania : Tanzania
 * Zanzibar (Tanzanian Island) : Unguja
 * Uganda : Uganda
 * Democratic Republic of the Congo : Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo
 * South Africa : Afrika Kusini
 * Nigeria : Nijeria
 * Ethiopia : Uhabeshi

 * China : Uchina
 * Japan : Japani
 * Singapore : Singapuri
 * South Korea : Korea Kusini
 * India :Uhindi
 * Israel : Uyahudi

 * Australia : Australia
 * New Zealand : Nyuzilandi

On safari

 * cheetah :  duma
 * elephant : tembo
 * giraffe :  twiga
 * hippo   :kiboko  (plural: viboko)
 * leopard :  chui
 * lion    :  simba
 * ostrich :  mbuni
 * snake   :  nyoka
 * turtle  :  Kobe
 * warthog :  Ngiri
 * zebra   :  punda milia

title: Swahili phrasebook


text:
Swakopmund

Swakopmund, known as Swakop, is in the Erongo region of Namibia. It is the country's biggest coastal town and a resort for Namibians on holiday. The city's German origins are quite pronounced in beautiful old German colonial buildings throughout the city, making an even starker contrast for this town sitting at the edge of the Namib Desert. Swakopmund is like a German North Sea town with an African flair (or vice versa).

History
The first European explorers of the area, Dutchmen Sebastian van Reenen and Pieter Pienaar described the area in 1793 as one with lush vegetation and elephants and rhinos. Nowadays the area can be described as ocean on one side and desert on the other, with some shrubs as the only natural vegetation. About a century after the Dutch exploration, the area was a colony of the German Empire, and was chosen as a second port for German South West Africa after Lüderitz. Walvis Bay would have been much better suitable but it was already in the hands of the British when the Germans established their colony.

The architects decided that Swakopmund should resemble the German homeland as much as possible, wherefore the city now looks as it does. The boom period of the city continued until the outbreak of World War I. This interrupted the construction of the massive pier, nowadays one of the city's main sights. After the war, the colony was taken over by the Union of South Africa, and all trade was done via Walvis Bay, which was now no longer foreign territory. Swakopmund declined but from the 1930s established itself as a resort town, helped by its pleasant climate and the abundance of fish in the ocean. Today it's the fourth most populous city in the country, with 45,000 residents (as of 2011), and popular among domestic and foreign holidaymakers and pensioners. It still has a sizeable German community.

Climate
Swakopmund has a mild desert climate, with the temperature varying little during the year. The town sees only about 20 mm of rain around the year; instead thick fog is a frequent occurrence. This is also why the Namibian coast is infamous for its shipwrecks. In addition to bringing needed moisture for the vegetation, the fog is also liable to lower the temperature to below +10°C in the winter.

Watch
Swakopmund was used as the setting for The Village in the 2008 production of The Prisoner by AMC and ITV. Its quaint buildings and unusual appearance made a perfect replacement for Portmeirion where the original 1960s series of The Prisoner was set.

By car
The best way to get to Swakopmund is by road from Windhoek. The B2 is the main road from Windhoek (362 km inland), and takes 4–5 hours by car. Walvis Bay, the closest major city, is 35 km to the south, also next to the B2. The road is paved and in good condition.

From elsewhere, you need to take a "C"-road. C34 goes north along the coast from Skeleton Coast National Park, and is a dangerous drive due to the aforementioned thick fog. There are also two roads that are more of dirt tracks, but interesting if you want to see some of the Namibian outback and have a 4WD vehicle; C28 coming in from Windhoek via the Namib-Naukluft National Park and C14 connecting to Walvis Bay.

By plane
Swakopmund does have an airport, but it's just used by the local skydiving club and for some charter flights. The closest airport for with passenger traffic is 35km away near Walvis Bay, and you can fly there from Johannesburg and Cape Town with South African Airways. Some hotels and guest houses will provide a shuttle service to/from the Walvis Bay airport. Otherwise, there are a couple of local shuttle services — The Flying Coffee Pot and Raiwin Shuttle Service  — that do the trip between Swakopmund and the airport for around N$200. Bookings can be made through the shuttle service's website.

If you have more money to spend, there are numerous small aircraft charter operators in Namibia, and flying from destination to destination on a tour through Namibia is an effective way to minimize the time spent travelling the long distances.

By minibus
Minibuses operate from Windhoek almost every 2-3 hours, ask the taxi drivers where the buses leave. There are multiple minibus ranks in Windhoek for different destinations, so make sure you find the right one. For about N$120 you can have a ride in a minibus. The ride will take about 4-6 hours. Pay immediately and try to get yourself a seat next to the driver for a bit more space.

By bus
Although the minibuses are slightly cheaper and are an experience, they have no fixed time schedule and are often overloaded. So check out these operators:
 * Intercape operates a service from Windhoek via Okahandja. Intercape service also extends to South Africa and Zimbabwe.
 * Econolux Tel +264 64 205935.
 * Town Hoppers Shuttle Service - Based in Swakopmund, they travel daily at 08:00 from Swakopmund and 14:30 from Windhoek. This is a mini bus, 14 seater, air conditioned bus with all necessary insurances. Friendly and helpful drivers and office staff. You can contact them - +264 64 407223 or townhoppers@iway.na

By train
The StarLine service between Windhoek and Walvis Bay has in the past run on weekdays. Checks should be made to see if active at time of travel. Trains leave Windhoek in the evening and arrive in Swakopmund early in the morning, if they are on time. Bring a jacket, as it can get quite cold in the night. There is a first and second class - with little difference between the two - but no sleeper. This is a mixed train where the single passenger car is treated like any other piece of cargo. Expect to be awoken several times during the night as the trains stops to pick up or drop off carriages.

By ship
Occasionally cruise liners visit Walvis Bay, and passengers may take a tour to Swakopmund.

On a tour or safari
Swakopmund is a frequent one or two night stop on most tours around Namibia. There are many tour operator doing tours both from Namibia and from outside, such as South Africa.

Get around
As with other Namibian cities, there is no public transport in Swakopmund. But the city is small enough to get around easily on foot. All the major attractions and facilities are in the centre. It´s hard to get a taxi in city centre (there are no taxis on a Saturday after 19:00), but once you get one it takes you wherever you want for the same rate as the Windhoek Taxis. A trip to Walvis Bay shouldn´t be more than N$40.

Architecture
Much of the downtown is built in early 20th-century German style.

Do
Swakopmund is Namibia's adventure capital, and there's a great selection of activities to try out on land, sea and in the air. Tours and activities may also be booked once you're in Swakopmund.

Air

The impressive Namib Desert (the oldest desert in the world, with the tallest sand dune in the world) around Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast to the north can be appreciated in their entirety from the air, from a hot air balloon, a helicopter or a light plane. There are several kinds of flight tours are available, ranging from a few hours to a few days. Some flights enables you to see the desert and the ocean from above, others include safaris.

 * Skydive: GoSkydive4Fun are based at the airport.

Sea
Swakopmund's beaches are full of domestic tourists, especially during school holidays. You'll find cold water, but warm sand. The beach, just to the north of town, is ringed with museums and cafes. Beware that further south there are no breakwaters, so the beach is exposed directly to the waves of the Atlantic, which means that swimming may not be safe.

Surfing is popular too. Hit the surf spots to the north of town, such as 'Thick Lip' and 'The Wreck'. Travel further south towards Langstrad for 'Guns'. Fishing is a more relaxed sea-related activity and tour companies also offer offshore fishing tours.

Land
Also the desert has many different activities, one local specialty being sandboarding, also known as duneboarding. You can ski the dunes just like you're snowboarding, or ride the board on your belly. Extremely high speeds — not for the faint hearted. This activity can be performed either on the world's highest sand dunes near Walvis Bay or some smaller dunes near Swakopmund. Alter Action has access to the infamous "Dizzy" hill. Tight clothing, sport shoes, sunglasses and sunblock are needed to take part in this activity. Beware that sand may damage your camera; though usually the price includes the operator taking video and photos of you performing the activity and giving you the footage.

Quadbiking is an excellent way to see the Namib desert close up. Several tour companies offer lessons and guided tours on four-wheel motorbikes through the desert surrounding the city. Breathtaking views of the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Just south of town on the road to Walvis Bay, there are some nice sand dunes suitable for a walk. Cross over the Swakop River, smile at the fact that there's rarely any visible water in it, and stroll through the dunes.

There are several birding locations in the town. At the Swakop River mouth there is a small fresh water lagoon which always has good birds to see. In the town there is the water treatment area. This is more for the twitcher (birders chasing rare birds) looking for rare birds. It is only open on working hours on week days. North of the town is the Mile 4 salt works. Some roads go along the open saline lakes where the salt is being extracted. This area is very important for various birds, including flamingos.

Other than this, there are also tours to the natural attractions mentioned in the Go next section.

In the city
Swakop has an unusual number of skilled rock musicians and an impromptu "Open Mike Night" can usually be organized at one of the local nightspots. Travelling musicians take note!

Also, in addition to being located in the beautiful Woermannhaus, the library of Swakopmund is reportedly one of the best in all of Africa; why not sit down and educate yourself?

Buy
Many Namibians travel to Swakopmund for shopping. While the selection is not as wide as in the capital, you can really buy everything you need here. There are several nice shops in Swakop selling souvenirs and art; in particular if you're interested in traditional African silver jewelry. There is also a very good craft market near the lighthouse, which has a lot of items which are difficult to find elsewhere in Namibia.

Eat
Typical local cuisine is a combination of the hearty German cuisine, and fish and seafood of the ocean. Being a resort city, many restaurants are located in hotels. For some of the most popular ones you will need to book a few days ahead, especially on weekends and holidays.

An average sit-down restaurant meal costs around N$150-300, and on top of that it's customary to leave a tip of 10%.

Drink
This is Jägermeister country and don't forget to sample the famous, locally brewed Hansa Draught. There is also a local independent craft brewery, called Namib Dunes.

Budget Under 500

Stay safe
Swakopmund is generally a safe city, though you should follow some basic rules: Be careful when swimming in the ocean. There is a strong northwards current (the Benguela Current), the water just a few meters away from the beach is icy all year round, and the waves are forceful. Locals swim right opposite Strand Hotel where the breakwater protects them, and so should you.
 * Don't leave valuables visible in your car.
 * Park at guarded parking lots if possible. It's customary to tip the guards N$2-3 per day and N$5 per night.
 * Avoid walking alone at night and deserted streets.
 * Strangers that may come and talk to you on the street are often up to no good. This is a frequent occurrence and may involve aggressive or persistent panhandling. New arrivals are especially targeted.
 * Sunburn is a real risk for everyone (you're in the tropics!), particularly on a cold and foggy day where you do not notice how much UV is hitting your skin.

Go next

 * Swakopmund is a good starting point for trips up the Skeleton Coast.
 * A good day-trip would be south from Swakop to Walvis Bay, Namibia's port town. The road to Walvis Bay provides good views of the Namib dunes meeting the Atlantic.
 * 120 km north of Swakopmund lies Cape Cross, where every October to December about 100,000 of the Cape Fur Seals breed. The sight and the noise (and also the smell) is absolutely breathtaking! The name Cape Cross comes from a stone cross erected 1486 by the Portuguese Diego Cáo. Entry fee to the nature reserve is N$10. Accommodation at the Cape Cross Lodge.
 * For hobby botanists a half day trip to the south east on the Moon landscape drive will take you to the legendary Welwitschia mirabilis, as well as other desert-adapted plants, abandoned mining equipment, and an unbelievable landscape. The drive crosses the Swakop River, and there is no bridge. There is also no water in the river, we're in Namibia after all! An ordinary sedan can achieve the river crossing (deep sand) with deflated tyres and an experienced driver. Don't forget to bring a pump, or else the rest of the rather challenging road will destroy tyres and the rims. In a place where there is no rain for decades the only water source the Welwitschia uses is humidity. They can become over 1000 years old and only live in this part of the Namib desert, up to 120 km away from the coast. Be careful not to walk too close to the plants (roots easily destroyed) or even take plants with you, the species is highly endangered!

title: Swakopmund


text:
Swamithoppe

Swamithoppe (alternate spelling Swamithope) is a town that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India. Swamithope lies about half-way between the cities of Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari on the Nagercoil-Kanniyakumari road. It also lies 8 km (5 mi) north-west of Cape Comerin.

Swamithoppu is a synonym for this town, as used in the holy book, Akilathirattu Ammanai of the Ayyavazhi religion. Swamithoppu is the name earned by the village Tamarikulam being the origin of the Ayyavazhi religion in the mid-nineteenth century.

Swamithoppe is also the home for the Swamithope Pathi, the religious head-quarters of Ayyavazhi religion. Also this is one of the most important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi which attracts huge crowd from all over the country.

By plane

 * Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in the neighboring state Kerala, is the nearest international airport, with direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives and Sri Lanka. And is served by Air-India, among others. From there two hour Train or Bus.
 * or you can reach Chennai (Madras) the state capital and catch Train or Bus.
 * Alternatively reach Kochi (Cochin), Kozhikode (Calicut), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta) and then by train.

By Train
For people coming from Trivandrum, Madurai, Coimbatore or Chennai, convenient trains are available to reach Nagercoil. If one arrives at the Nagercoil railway station, taxis are available at the station to travel to Swamithope.

By Bus
From Nagercoil, town buses are available (route numbers 34, 2, 1-D); alternatively, visitors can use auto or taxi as well. If someone is already staying in Kanyakumari, it is best travel to Swamithope by taxi or by Bus (about 10 km/6 mi).

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

 * Auto Rickshaws - Don't go by the meter. It's better to negotiate a rate with the driver beforehand.
 * Tourist Cabs - Are the best choice in case you want to tour the locations around Swamithoppe. Drivers don't follow a fixed method for charging. But its wise to negotiate at least the rates that are applicable in Kanyakumari and Nagercoil.

See
The temple preserves some articles believed to have been used by Ayya Vaikundar, including a rattan cane (perampu) and a pair of wooden sandals. The Palliyarai is surrounded by inner corridors.

There is a 16.7 m (55 ft) tall flag mast at a distance of 15 m (50 ft) from Palliyarai. And in north of flag mast there is an Unpanpurai. Here, they cook the food and distribute it to the devotees.

Muttirikkinaru - The historical well is situated some 300 meters (980 ft) from the main Pathi. This was the first well in this part of the sub-continent where all castes are allowed freely to use the water during mid-nineteenth century. It was considered sacred to bathe in and to drink the water from that well.

Paal Kinaru - The well situated in the extreme east of the main Pathi. It was from this well the water (the holy Patham) for ritual usage for the Pathi is fetched off.

Vatakku Vasal - in the north of the main Pathi, is the historical cite where Ayya Vaikundar carried out his six year penance. There is a bell tower above the spot where Vaikundar performed the Tavam.

Marunthuvazh Malai - A medicinal hill located 3 km (1.8 mi) north-east to Swamithoppe Pathi which has a long traditional background. This site is also historically associated with the incarnational activities of Vaikundar. Ayyavazhis consider this hill sacred and treat it with high religious importance. Mutta pathi - The place is located 2 km (1 mi) north-east to Kanyakumari. This is a Ayyavazhi holy site from the event that Ayya Vaikundar conducted the Thuvayal-Thavasu to train the devotees to be strict vegetarians, to eat only once a day (raw rice and green gram), to wash clothes three time a day and lead a holy life. The sea near this site is traditionally called the 'milk-ocean'. This is the sea where Lord Vaikundar plunged into to get the Vinchai.

Thamarakulam pathi - This is the birth place of Ari Gopalan (Hari Gopalan) who was also called Sahadevan by Ayya Vaikundar. Ari Gopalan was instrumented by Ayya to write Akilathirattu, the holy book Ayyavazhi. This place is located 3 km from Swamithoppe.

Ambala pathi - In this place, located 4 km west to Manakkudy, Ayya Vaikundar manifesting himself as Lord Siva, assumed the powers of Goddess Bhagavathi, Lord Karthikeya, Valli, Theivayanai and also Lord Brahma. Every year, car festivals are conducted and vahanas are used to carry Ayya Vaikundar around.

Poo pathi - This is the site where Ayya unified into himself Poomadanthai, who was the manifestation of the Bhoomadevi, the 'Earth Goddess'. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi) west to Ambala pathi.

Do
There is a specific dress code that men have to follow. It is forbidden for gents to wear any shirt or baniyan (above the waist) when they enter the Pathi and they are expected to wear a thalaippagai (a towel on the head) while entering the temple. Though the preferred dress for men is white dhoti, if this is not available, a pair of trousers is acceptable. One should not go to the temple if he or she has taken any non-vegetarian food on that day.

On all days the temple is open for worship. The preferred procedure is to have a holy bath in the Muttiri kinaru (holy well), then have a worship. This is a must if one wants to come around the Palliarai (the sanctum sanctorium) of the Pathi. After having the holy bath, devotees chant the Maha mantra "Ayya Siva Siva Siva Siva Arahara Arahara" and worship first in the Vadakku Vasal (where Ayya did the penance for six years). Then people have the worship of the kodimaram (flag mast), then come around the outer corridor five times chanting the mahamanthra and then enter into the Pathi. If one wants to go and have a close dharshan of Ayya in front of the sanctum sanctorium, they should take permission from the Payyans who is giving Namam to the devotees.

The palli arai (the moolasthanam) will be closed for short durations when preparations are being made for special prayer sessions like Uga padippu or Uchchi padippu, depending on the time of the day. Otherwise the temple is open for darshan from 6 AM to 8 PM.

While in the temple, devotees are either expected to observe silence or chant the Maha manthra "Ayya Siva Siva Siva Siva Arahara Arahara" and not to indulge in any conversations.

Festivals
The temple is usually crowded during the three major festivals every year and the Tamil month Masi 20, the famous festival for Ayya's incarnational day (Ayya Vaikunda Avatharam). There is a reasonable number of devotees attending prayers every Sunday for Uchchi padippu (noon session), but the crowd is much bigger on the first Sunday of every Tamil month. However, there is prayer in the temple at least thrice a day, everyday.

If someone wants to take something to the temple while going for prayer, they can offer fresh fruits, fresh flowers (flowers of the day), coconuts or tender coconuts.

Ayya Vaikunda Avatharam - The incarnational day of Ayya Vaikundar from the sea at Tiruchendur. This is the most important festival of Ayyavazhi and on this day the celebrations in Swamithoppe is considered with high religious importance. Though it was celebrated with processions all over Tamil Nadu, its celebrations are in grand scale in the south. Two processions, one from Tiruchendur, connected with the incarnation of Vaikundar, and another from Thiruvananthapuram, noting the release of Vaikundar unifies at Nagercoil and proceed towards Swamithoppe, the geographical focus point of Ayyavazhi.

Buy

 * A copy of Akilattirattu Ammanai - The primary scripture of Ayyavazhi.
 * A copy of Arul Nool - The secondary scripture
 * Audio cassettes and CDs contains Ayyavazhi devotional songs, Prayers, Speeches etc.
 * Ayyavazhi based Journals, books, Biography of Vaikundar, News papers, calendars etc available in Tamil, English and Malayalam.
 * Rudrakshas, key chains, dollars, ornaments, Stickers, Framed and unframed wallpapers with Ayyavazhi symbol and Ayyavazhi related images and photos printed on them.
 * Hand-made bags, hand-kerchiefs, sea shell-ornaments, desk top decorations, etc.

Eat

 * Aapam
 * Ven Pongal
 * Lemon Rice
 * Iddly
 * Curd Rice
 * Rasam
 * Murukku
 * Adhirasam
 * Bajji
 * Vetral Kuzhambu

Ritual foods

 * Umpa Annam
 * Paal Annam
 * Nithiya Paal
 * Thavanai Paal
 * Neamisa Annam
 * Chukku Paal

Note:-The ritual foods are offered in the Pathi and are restricted to ritual limits.

Drink

 * Tender coconut
 * Sugarcane juice
 * Lemon Juice
 * Tea
 * Coffee
 * Chilled Butter milk

Sleep
This being a small town contains only a few lodging facility, though traditional vegetarian South Indian food is available in small restaurants located near the temple.

The town nearby to stay is Nagercoil or Kanyakumari, though it would be better to stay in Nagercoil due to reasonable costs and varieties of facilities available there.

Go next

 * Kanyakumari - The place where the great saint Swami Vivekananda Penanced, and where the temple for Devi Kanya located.

title: Swamithoppe


text:
Swansboro

Swansboro, sometimes called the "Friendly City by the Sea", is a town of 3,700 people (as of 2020) in Onslow County, North Carolina, between the White Oak River and the Intracoastal Waterway. The town was incorporated in 1783, and named for Samuel Swann, a former Speaker in the North Carolina legislature. It's on the western border of the popular Crystal Coast tourist region, and is often considered to be unofficially part of the region. The town's main attractions are its beautiful waterfront views and its quaint downtown, filled with boutiques, shops and delicious restaurants.

Get in
Swansboro is on NC-24, about half an hour east of Jacksonville and just across the White Oak River from Cape Carteret. If you're coming from Raleigh, the quickest route is to take I-40 to Kenansville (exit 373) and then follow US-258/NC-24 past Jacksonville.

Get around
Parking in town is free, and many people enjoy walking or biking through the downtown area.

See

 * Bicentennial Park, at the base of the Highway 24 bridge, gives visitors a chance to fish in the White Oak River or relax and watch the water. There's also a statue of Otway Burns, a local privateer who built the first steamboat in North Carolina.

Do

 * The main downtown area is along Front Street, which features numerous shops, restaurants and historic buildings.
 * Aquaculture Dude Ranch, 334 Journey's End Lane, +1 910-326-5106. Offers ecology tours into the Croatan National Forest, and has a dock where you can dig for clams, dip for crabs, catch shrimp and oysters, and set fish traps.
 * If you want to bring your own boat for fishing or cruising, Swansboro has three marinas:
 * Casper's Marine Service, 301 South Water Street, +1 910-326-4462. 150 slips.
 * Dudley's Marina, Highway 24 East, +1 252-393-2204. 25 slips. Also has hot showers and a store for fishing equipment.
 * Swansboro Yacht Basin, Highway 24, +1 252-393-2416. 90 feet of dockage. Also has three restaurants, including the Flying Bridge.
 * There are two fishing piers in the area, a small city-maintained pier by the bridge and one pay pier.
 * The 25-mile Bicentennial Bicycle Trail loops through downtown historic Swansboro and into the Croatan National Forest.

Festivals
Swansboro is a town that loves its festivals. Among the highlights:

 * One Saturday in mid-March, the Rotary Civic Center puts on the Swansboro Rotary Oyster Roast with all-you-can-eat steamed oysters, flounder, clam chowder, sides (hush puppies and coleslaw) and beverages, as well as a traditional North Carolina pig pickin'. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
 * At the end of May, Swansboro hosts the King Mackerel Blue Water Tournament with prizes up to $25,000, and a barbecue cookout for participants. Advance entry fee is $300 per boat.
 * One Saturday in mid-June, downtown Swansboro hosts Arts by the Sea, where local artists display their arts and crafts amid lots of food booths. Admission and parking are free.
 * On July 4th, be sure to watch the fireworks show over the river at 9PM, with popcorn and funnel cakes to munch, and entertainment before dusk.
 * The Mullet Festival, held during the second weekend in October, began as a celebratory event when the bridge over the White Oak River was completed in 1954. Since that year, Swansboro has had an annual celebration with parades, a street carnival, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and lots of seafood, with an emphasis on mullet: grilled, fried, smoked and stewed!
 * The Friendly City Speckled Trout Tournament is held in early November at Casper's Marina; fishermen are encouraged to weigh their trout alive and release them back into the water.
 * On Thanksgiving weekend, pull your car up to the riverfront early to watch the Christmas flotilla, as a parade of boats decorated in lights pulls into the harbor after dark.

Buy
Many people come to Swansboro for the express purpose of meandering through its quiet lanes and browsing the quaint shops. Parking is free, so take your time.

Go next
The Crystal Coast area has a variety of other areas to visit:
 * Atlantic Beach
 * Emerald Isle
 * Morehead City
 * Beaufort
 * Harkers Island

Further afield, there are some interesting destinations for daytrips:
 * Havelock, about 40 minutes north on US-70.
 * New Bern, about 1 hour north on NC-58.
 * Jacksonville, about 30 minutes west on US-24.
 * Bath, about 2 hours north.
 * Ocracoke Island, about 3.5 hours east.

title: Swansboro