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Murud

Murud is a city in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.

By car
Situated at a distance of 50 km from Alibag. From Mumbai take the Goa highway until you reach Wadkhal, from there take the road to Alibag which will take you to Murud. The roads in this area are destroyed by monsoons every year (max rainfall in Maharashtra), so don't expect a smooth ride, instead, enjoy every pothole.

By bus
State Transport buses ply from Mumbai & Pune to Alibag, and Alibag to Murud. The MSRTC buses are still the cheapest and most undesired way of transport in this area. Some travel groups in Mumbai and Pune arrange big group tours to this area and provide better buses. But they are only on demand, not regular. Very nice.

By plane
The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 140 km.

By train
The nearest railhead is at Panvel 90 km.

By ferry
Regular ferry service between Mumbai-Rewas, Rewas is 6 km from Kihim. Ferry service available daily except during monsoons.

Get around
There is the state transport to go around to nearby places of interest like the Janjira fort. Beach is walkable from town. Otherwise there are a lot of three wheeler 'Autorickshaws'. One interesting mode of transport is the horse buggies, but they are a dying breed.

See

 * Palace of Nawab. The palace was built in 1885 for administration purposes. However you can see the Palace only from outside as the palace is still owned by the descendants of the Nawab and is a private property.
 * The Beach
 * Janjira Fort on an island offshore near Rajpuri. Originally the fort was a small wooden structure built by a Koli chief in the late 15th century. It was captured by Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. Later the fort was strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward Siddis became independent, owing allegiance to Adilshah and the Mughals as dictated by the times. Despite their repeated attempts, the Portuguese, the British and the Marathas failed to subdue the Siddi power. Take a sailboat to the fort. It is on an island and built so that there is only one spot where the sailboat can land. When Sambhaji also failed to capture Janjira, he built another island fort, known as Kansa or Padmadurg, just 9km north of Janjira. Padmadurg was built so as to be able to bombard Murud Janjira.
 * Khokri Gumbaj - old tombs
 * Dutta Mandir - temple on a hilltop overlooking the town
 * Ganapati temple in Nandgao

Do

 * There is a very beautiful beach at Murud to spend your mornings swimming, afternoons playing cricket or whichever sport you like and evenings walking hand in hand and watch the sun set on the horizon of the Indian Ocean.
 * Take a boat ride to fort Janjira and trek on the ruins.
 * Take a walk around town to see interesting local population busy in their daily chores.
 * Drink the coconut wine (Maadi).
 * Eat fried fish.
 * Kashid beach is located around 25 km from Murud featuring water sports.

Eat
Fish. The preparation in this area is really tasty, especially the fried variety.

The local restaurant called Patils Inn or Patil Khanawal is a good place to eat fish thali. The food is just amazing.

Drink
A coconut wine called Maadi is very popular here. There are a few beer bars, which are dark and smelly.

Go next
Janjira Fort at Rajapuri - The majestic sea fort which remained unconquered until the end.

title: Murud


text:
Murwillumbah

Murwillumbah is a town in Northern Rivers, in northern New South Wales.

Understand
Murwillumbah straddles the Tweed River and is surrounded by fertile dairy, sugar cane and banana farm lands, receiving substantial rainfall each year.

By plane

 * Coolangatta Airport — has domestic flights and international flights from New Zealand, Malaysia, and Japan. It often has cheaper flights and cheaper car hire than Ballina.
 * Ballina Airport — there are flights from Sydney and Melbourne.
 * Murwillumbah also has an airport, but scheduled with very few flights, mostly charter.

Airport transfers
You can book door-to-door services at the airport.

By train
CountryLink passenger trains no longer travel on the coastal route, now using the inland route instead. Buses connect the coastal towns from the inland stops.

By bus
Many backpackers catch coaches that ply the Brisbane to Sydney route. The main ones are Greyhound and Premier Motor Service.

By car
Murwillumbah is about a drive from Brisbane CBD. From Brisbane, use the M1 south, past the NSW border, and take the exit at Tweed Valley Way (Tourist Drive 40) and continue for until Murwillumbah. While the motorway is good quality, Tourist Drive 40 is quite winding as it climbs the Great Dividing Range. Alternatively, you may take exit 95 north of the border and use State Route 98 and Tourist Drive 42 down to Murwillumbah.
 * Coolangatta Airport — 31 min (32.8 km) via M1 and Tweed Valley Way
 * Ballina Airport — 57 min (72.6 km) via M1 and Tweed Valley Way

See

Eat

Drink

Go next

 * Tweed Heads
 * Kingscliff
 * Byron Bay

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

title: Murwillumbah


text:
Musandam Peninsula

The Musandam Peninsula (Arabic: جَـزِيـرَة مُـسَـنْـدَم, Jazīraṫ Musandam) is an exclave of Northern Oman. Musandam is the northernmost tip of a peninsula that juts northward into the Persian Gulf and is roughly divided along its length between Oman and the UAE.

Cities
The population of about 30,000 people in Musandam is concentrated in
 * in the regional capital city in the north and
 * a small port town on the east coast.

The Omani government tries to prevent migration from the small fishing villages into Khasab and offers fishermen and Bedouin villages free electricity and water supply. Therefore along the coastline and in some few places in the mountains tiny Bedouin villages can be found

Other destinations

 * Jebel Al Harim – The highest mountain in the peninsula.

Understand
Musandam is on the Strait of Hormuz, separated from the rest of Oman by the eastern coastline of the United Arab Emirates. It also includes the exclave Madha which is completely enclosed by the United Arab Emirates, inside of which is a truly tiny exclave called Nahwa that is part of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

The mountains have housed extremely isolated communities for centuries and many coastal villages can only be reached by boat. Some Bedouin communities are still today closed for non-Omanis. The highest mountain is Jebel Al Harim with an altitude of 2,087 meters above sea level. Most of the roads are still gravel or dirt roads and only the major highway from the UAE border to Khasab is perfectly built for the increasing traffic.

Omanis in the region have for centuries developed close trading ties with Iran. The Iranian city Bandar Abbas is just 65 km or 1½ hours by boat across the Strait of Hormuz. Locally, Khasab is known for smuggling by Iranians in and out of Musandam. This trading is only illegal for Iranian traders as Oman has a free trade zone and regulates the trade in its port. Today Iranians in general sell cattle, sheep, goats, spices and other agricultural goods in exchange for TV sets, computers and other electronic goods. You can watch the trade in Khasab harbour without major restrictions.

Tourism has become important since the construction of the Khasab Road to the UAE border. The tourist season runs from late October until April. The tourist swell is usually limited to the weekend (Th-Sa), when UAE residents arrive with their families. During these days, reserve hotels and tours in advance to avoid problems. Also when cruise ships arrive in Khasab, facilities like transport will be stretched to the maximum.

Talk
Arabic is the national language and is spoken by locals. The tourism industry depends on migrant workers who speak English with a varying degree of proficiency and dialect. Most Omanis in Musandam only speak limited English and you need to speak basic Arabic to get by in every place outside of Khasab.

Get in
The main road access is from Ras Al Khaymah (RAK) on the road E-11 (after Al Darah border called Khasab Road) and with more difficulty from the Dibba border of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. The E-11 road from Ras Al Khaymah is well sign posted to the Omani border, once crossed the check post, roads are beautifully made cutting across the mountains. Breathtaking views indeed. There are also major construction works directly on the Omani side of the border, so expect loads of trucks. If started early from Dubai, it helps a lot, including the quick UAE exit and Oman entry. From Dubai, drive the E-311 to RAK and change on the E-11 road. The whole trip should be done in about 2-2½ hr depending on the traffic within RAK.

Oman Airlines has regular flights from Muscat to Khasab. During peak holiday seasons, Emirates and other Gulf airlines offer charter flights from Dubai to Khasab.

An entry visa is required if you are entering from the United Arab Emirates. The emigration offices on both sides of the border are painfully slow and require travellers to fill out forms. The process to get a UAE exit and Omani entry visa usually requires 30-60 minutes on normal days but during holiday season in the United Arab Emirates, it can take up to four hours. If possible, team up, so that one person queues while the other fills out the immigration forms (each for every person!) Also note that only the Omani immigration building offers restrooms. If you travel with a group (party of six or more) then the driver might receive a token that you have to hand over at the last border check to do a quick head count. Don't leave without handing it over to the border police.

The Omani visa costs 20 Omani rials or 200 UAE dirhams for most nationalities and can be bought directly at the border. The entry visa to Musandam is free for ten days if you have already entered the UAE on a tourist visa. Non-GCC UAE Residents have different rules depending on their nationality. Diplomatic or service staff residing in the UAE need to check individually but in general need a visa in advance.

If you use a private vehicle, Omani insurance is required and strictly controlled. Ensure that you have a written confirmation; otherwise, you have to buy insurance at an inflated price at the border. Rental vehicles will need a written insurance confirmation, so make sure to check before you go.

Get around
Public transport within Musandam doesn't exist. You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle if you intend to see more than Khasab. Be sure to have spare water and tires with you if you intend to drive to Jebel Al Harim, the Arabian Sea beaches or destinations farther off the beaten track, as absolutely no facilities are along the road. Even if the altitude is high, the heat, dust and gravel will test your vehicle. Along the roads to popular sites are military installations that are regularly used by the Omani army forces for training purposes. Military vehicles have priority, so give way and don't photo/film them as this is strictly forbidden.

Fuel is very cheap in Musandam. A litre of gas (95/98 octane) costs close to RO 0.5 (€0.25), which is cheap even for the UAE. Therefore, lots of UAE travellers fuel their cars at Musandam petrol stations, and queues at the start and end of the weekend might require a 10-15 minute wait.

See
Barren mountains that rise up to 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) above sea level jut out like fingers into the sea, creating countless fjord-like inlets and yield spectacular views.

Do
Musandam offers untouched nature, challenging mountains and water activities. Due to the sparse population of the Musandam Peninsula coast, wildlife is abundant in the waters along the coast.

Eat
Musandam is known for its fish. Today most of the fish is sold in Dubai as prices are about double those in Khasab. Local goat and lamb are also very popular on the grill as kebab or racks. Due to the big labour migration from India, Pakistan and the Philippines, several traditional dishes of South Asia are known and served as well. Only in Khasab and Dibba will travellers find some choice of restaurants, but only very limited international cuisine. If you travel outside of Khasab, stock your own food beforehand because there are no shops.

Drink
Water and tea are the main choices to combat the dry climate. Non-alcoholic soft drinks are available everywhere. The sale of alcohol requires a licence that only few places have. If you want more than beer (mostly cans), basic red or white wines and spirits then you will need to bring it with you. Your main hassle will be to bring the alcohol from UAE to Musandam as the UAE highway crosses some dry Emirates (e.g. Sharjah) where alcohol is strictly prohibited. These rules are strictly enforced, so you are better off not pushing your luck and living with a limited selection.

Sleep
Accommodation is very limited for travellers. Khasab only has six hotels. The major exception is a luxurious resort at Zighy beach near the Dibba border with Fujairah, the Six Senses Zighy Bay resort. Several hotels and apartment complexes have been planned but due to the financial crisis, property development slowed down. Camping in some places is tolerated (e.g. Bassa Beach near Khasab), but inquire first if you stay near small villages and towns as several Bedouin villages don't accept camping near them, if you are not an Omani or exceptionally well connected to these Bedouins.

Stay safe
Being a peninsula that is bordered by the sea and the UAE, in general the level of safety is very high. There are two main risks:

 * 1) Traffic: The roads are steep, corners are narrow and the drivers are reckless. Don't overtake without a clear view, during the night expect cars without lights on both sides of the road as well as cattle. Only the road from the UAE border to Khasab road has street lights, but it also has speeding drivers
 * 2) Dehydration: Musandam is very hot, dusty and lacks (drinkable) water. During summer the air heats up to 50°C and the sea gets up to 38°C. Always have something to drink with you!

Omantel operates a good mobile phone network in Musandam. With an UAE SIM card roaming is significantly cheaper than with other international cards. Internet cafes are limited as almost everyone uses mobile Internet.

Non-bottled water in general is collected as rain water in reservoirs and might taste foul/dusty and might be for foreigners a bit difficult to swallow. It's safe to drink but bottled water might be the preferred choice for visitors.

Don't photograph public buildings or military installations. Musandam is on the front line to the Strait of Hormuz and Iran. Omani army forces regularly train in the area and all cameras, smartphones, etc. will be confiscated if seen to try to take photos of sensitive structures. For religious reasons, many people - especially women and elderly people - don't like photos taken of them. Always ask explicit permission to photograph before you raise your camera. Iranians in the Khasab harbour don't like direct photos of their faces as they are smuggling into Iran which involves risks to their lives.

Women should be reluctant to initiate handshakes with male Omanis. Some might not feel comfortable to shake hands with foreign women. Please be defensive and start communication first to get a reaction. Omanis are very hospitable, but Western standards have been only introduced to them for a couple of years and most only very rarely encounter foreigners. Women don't need to wear a niqab but should cover their shoulders and knees during visits of public buildings and remote villages.

Go next

 * Muscat - Capital of Oman and just a short flight or a five hour boat trip
 * Dubai - Glittering city, seemingly centuries away from the culture of Musandam
 * Ra's al Khaymah - Closest bigger international airport and neighboring emirate

title: Musandam Peninsula


text:
Musashino

Musashino (武蔵野市 Musashino-shi) is a city in western Tokyo.

Understand
Musashino was formed as the result of a merger of several nearby neighborhoods. The most notable of these, Kichijoji is in itself a destination, and has its own article. Train travel is ubiquitous, so the second hub of the city is the area near Musashisakai Station. The remainder of the city is largely residential. There are several universities in the area, including Asia University and Musashino University.

The city is roughly squarish in shape, except that the south central part of the square is a part of Mitaka, the neighboring city to the south. The JR Chūō Line, which runs east-west through Musashino, has two stops in the city: Musashisakai (武蔵境, in the west) and Kichijoji (吉祥寺, in the east). Between those is Mitaka.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By train
The JR Chūō Line (中央本線) connects Musashino with Shinjuku and Tokyo Station to the east. Mitaka, one stop east of Musashisakai, is a transfer point for several other train lines.

Get around

Within Musashino, travel by foot, bus or bicycle is practical. The roads here are not so crowded, so using a car is reasonable, too.

By train
By train, the JR Chuo Line has stops at Kichijoji, the neighboring Mitaka, and Musashisakai.

By bus
There are several bus companies that have routes in Musashino. The train runs east/west through the city, and for north/south travel, it is probably best to take a taxi or catch a bus from Musashisakai.

Buy
The station areas at Kichijoji and Musashisakai have a fair number of shops. For a larger selection, take the Chuo Line to Shinjuku or elsewhere in Tokyo.

Sleep
Musashino is not generally a business or tourist destination, it being largely residential. What hotels do exist are unlikely to have English speaking staff. Kichijoji has many hotels, though. To the east along the Chuo Line are Nakano and Shinjuku, with plenty of places from which to choose.

Go next
Musashino is bordered on the west by Koganei, on the east by Mitaka, and on the north by Nishitokyo. These cities are easily accessible by bus or bicycle.

Ride the JR Chuo train for another ten or twenty minutes to reach Nakano or Shinjuku. The Chuo Line ends at Tokyo Station, the shinkansen terminus.
 * Higashikurume
 * Kodaira
 * Higashimurayama
 * Kokubunji
 * Chofu

title: Musashino


text:
Muscat

Muscat (Arabic: مسقط Masqaṭ) is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman and its most important and populous city (1.7 million in the metro area in 2021). It has been inhabited since at least 1000 BCE and for centuries was an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road. It is home to a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, and receives the largest number of foreign visitors to the country.

Understand
Wedged between the Arabian Sea and the rugged Western Hajar Mountains, the city referred to as Muscat is in fact several smaller towns which have grown together over time. These include old Muscat (also known as the 'walled city'), site of the royal palace; Mutrah (also spelled Matrah or Matruh), once a fishing village and home to the labyrinthine Mutrah Souq; and Ruwi, which is the commercial and diplomatic quarter of the city. The metropolitan area covers 3,500 km2, and this tripartite division can be inconvenient for the visitor especially as much accommodation is a fair distance from sights of interest.

Unlike other cities in the Gulf, notably in the UAE and Qatar, Muscat does not have an ultramodern skyline. Following the preferences of the Sultan, modern construction is required to adhere to traditional Arabic architectural styles, resulting in a more low-key urban landscape.

 * Municipal government website (in Arabic)

By plane

Taxis from and to the airport should cost between RO 6 (Golden Tulip, near the airport) and RO 12 (Al Bustan Palace Hotel, Al Bustan). Taxis can be booked at the Taxi Counter (, taxi@omanairports.com@undefined). Make sure you agree the fare with the driver before commencing your journey. Fares should be agreed before commencing the journey and may be pre-paid at the Muscat International Airport Taxi Counter. There are ATM machines inside the terminal just prior to exiting on the left side of the doors.

By car
You can reach Muscat by road from the United Arab Emirates. The journey takes about 5 hr by crossing the border in Hatta/Al Ain, some border crossings are just for Gulf Cooperation Council citizens.

You can drive from Al Ghaydah in Yemen. The journey is about 6 hr via the border crossing at Sarfeit to Salalah and then another 10 hr to Muscat.

By boat

Cruise ships stop regularly at in Mutrah. Shuttle buses transport visitors from the ship to the port entrance, and taxis are also available. A board at the port exit lists fares to the most common destinations; all other destinations must be negotiated first. However, it is a short distance by foot to the Corniche, with the route passing by the fish market (described below under 'See'). Visitors need to bring only their cruise boarding pass and their Tourist Entry Permit.

By taxi
Maxi taxis (minibuses, known throughout the expat community as baisa buses) ply the highway from Seeb to the Corniche area. The charge is RO 0.100 (100 Bzs) from the Corniche area to the church roundabout and another 100 Bzs from the church round about to Wadi Adai.

On arrival at the airport, situated approximately 40 km from the main Muscat CBD, you can get a baisa bus down the main highway in either direction.

The (mostly orange and white) taxis are a bit pricier, and they hang around the hotels where they get juicy fares from unwary travellers. They will charge RO 8 for an airport trip if you don't haggle, but you should be able to agree RO 5. They always say they will give you "good price", but it's best to figure out what you want to spend then agree before you get in. You don't need to haggle when calling them through the otaxi app. The minimum fare is RO 1.500 and most destinations won't be much more than that.

The Maxi Taxis ply the main routes through town, and they go where they want so you might have to find one going your direction. Once you are on one, they will make sure you get there. The place to wait for them is on the on-ramps of most of the main highway junctions, when you'll usually see a few people waiting around for one. A journey within the Muscat area should not cost more than RO 0.300 each, but if you look like an experienced traveller and hand them RO 0.200 then you can usually get away with that.

By car
For visitors staying in Muscat for longer than a day, renting a car provides the most flexibility and is far more economical than using taxis, as one taxi ride from Ghubrah to Muscat and back will cost about the same as hiring a car for one day. A 2WD is fine to see the sights within and around Muscat, but if you're planning to explore wadis and mountains you'll need a 4WD.

Road signs in Muscat can be confusing, and motorway exits are not always clearly marked. Compared with elsewhere in the Gulf (e.g. Dubai and Doha) Muscat drivers are reasonably disciplined, but visitors from outside the region may find the local driving style erratic. For a gentler introduction into Muscat traffic it may be easier to take a taxi (or hotel-provided shuttle) from the airport, and arrange for a rental car through your accommodation – rates are usually the same as if not better than at the airport.

Most local and international rental agencies have offices at the airport. An international driver's permit is theoretically required to rent a car, but usually agents will request only your national licence. All car hires include mandatory insurance. The cheapest car hire is about RO 15 per day for a 2WD economy car with manual transmission and sometimes no air-conditioning; for a 4WD, expect to pay double that amount.

By public bus
The Mwasalat company runs a few lines of public buses which cover the most important sights and the airport. Buses are infrequent (15 to 20 minutes), but are comfortable and have A/C. Enter at the front door, tell the driver your destination and pay with cash. Women are expected to sit in the front. As of Jan 2023, there were about 7 bus lines in operation, with most starting and ending in Ruwi. The routes can be viewed on Google Maps. Fares depend on distance, ranging from 300 Bzs to RO 1.

 * Route #1: Ruwi-Al Mabelah - Goes to the Royal Opera House, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Airport
 * Route #2: Ruwi-Al Wadi Al Kabir
 * Route #3: Ruwi-Wadi Adei
 * Route #4: Ruwi-Mutrah-Al Alam Palace - Goes to Mutrah Souk, Al Alam Palace and National Museum of Oman

Mutrah
Formerly a fishing village, Mutrah is known primarily for its extensive souq and waterfront corniche. Mutrah harbour is also where the Sultan's royal yacht is docked.

Ruwi and Qantab
Ruwi is Muscat's primary commercial district, as well as the gateway to Qantab south of the city.

Al Ghubrah, Al Khuwair, Al Qurm, and Bawshar
As an alternative to the main CBD of Muscat, Mutrah, and Ruwi, there are plenty of places to go to and things to see along the main highway that heads northwest out of the CBD. This main road, the Sultan Qaboos Highway, goes past many areas on its way out to the airport and further still to Seeb, Sohar and eventually the northernmost tip of Oman. Heading along this road you pass the districts of Al Qurm (Qurum), Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Al Khuwair, Bausher, Al-Hail and Seeb. Each one has a number of sights and places to stay.

There is also a very long beach road from Al Qurm to Seeb, some 50 km. Situated along this are some of the large international hotel chains but, more importantly, you discover the true beauty of the Oman coast-line: kilometres of beaches, fishermen with drag nets and open space to walk for hours.

Trekking
There is some outstanding trekking in northern Oman, and for a taste there are a couple of easy treks within or very close to Muscat.

Mountain biking
With many excellent trails nearby, Muscat has a fast-growing mountain bike community. Bike Oman organizes weekly mountain bike excursions on Thursday, most of which begin within a 20-45 min. drive from Muscat. During the summer they organize weekly night time rides, usually on Mondays.

Beaches
On private beaches (i.e. those attached to hotels) western swimwear is acceptable. On public beaches, however, visitors should be mindful of Omani conservative norms. Women are advised to stick with one-piece suits, and men should wear longer swimming shorts (not speedos); keep shoulders and knees covered unless you are actually on the beach. Women may find a parasol helpful to hide from prying eyes.

Beaches with a sign 'Family Beach' are closed to single or bachelor men.

Bird watching
There are some good areas for avian enthusiasts, within and around the city.

Tailors
There are numerous Indian-run tailors. An Italian-style suits typically costs RO 5.

Money changers

 * Oman-UAE Exchange Centres - LuLu Hypermarkets, Ghala and Ruwi
 * Global Money Exchange - Ruwi
 * Travelex - Seeb International Airport
 * Purshottam Kanji - Ruwi
 * Mustafa Sultan Exchange - Many outlets throughout Oman

Budget
Food is relatively cheap in Muscat, a meal can cost just a couple of rials. For inexpensive Indian food, there are many restaurants catering to Indian guest workers in Al Khuwayr. In Mutrah you can walk down the waterfront in the Corniche area to catch a cool sea breeze, and treat yourself to some sandwiches and Halib (tea with milk) or Sulaimani (black tea) at one of the wayside restaurants. A cup of tea costs about RO 0.100.

Drink
Every road, street corner or little collection houses, huts or businesses has a 'Coffee-Shop' – basic but worth a go. Fresh fruit juices are delicious and available from a number of stalls and cafes in Muscat. Expect to pay between RO 0.500-1.500 for these juices depending on type and size.

Budget

 * Guest Houses. There are a number of Guest Houses (Isteraha in Arabic) spread around Muscat which are quite affordable and acceptable in general.
 * Corniche Area There are five hotels on the Corniche waterfront in Mutrah that all charge RO 15. Al Fanar Hotel which is very rundown at the end of the waterfront charges RO 10. Naseem Hotel opposite the Corniche charges RO 27 for a twin-bed room (as of Dec 2016).

Splurge
Muscat offers a considerable range of luxury hotels, including those listed below.

Stay healthy
It is advisable to drink bottled water while in Muscat. Oman Oasis, Tanuf, Arwa, Salsabeel and Aquafina are the most recognisable brands of mineral water and is available in most convenience shops. "Masafi" and "Darbat" are also brands at reasonable prices - RO 1 for 12 x 1.5 litre. Tap water is generally not safe, and so use bottled water.

Connect
Omantel offers pre-paid Hayyak SIM cards and top-up cards, which can be purchased at mobile phone shops and hypermarkets. Also available are pre-paid Jibreen Cards, good on both mobile and landlines, in denominations of RO 5 and 1.5. A 5-rial card gets you 11 minutes of talk time.

Skype is blocked in Oman, and can only be accessed through a VPN. While other VoIP services have been blocked in the past, Google Talk, Viber, FaceTime and MSN Messenger are all accessible.

The calling card Global One does not work in Muscat. Although the Global One website lists the rates for calls from Oman there are no numbers listed alongside. The nearest Global One help line is in Dubai.

Free Wi-Fi is available in several public parks, including Qurm National Park, Naseem Garden, Al Amerat Park, and Wadi Kabir. For access, visitors are routed to an Omantel landing page requesting a mobile number, to which a password will be sent; customers are limited to 1.5 hr/day. Costa Coffee also offers free connection in five locations: Qurm City Centre, Muscat City Centre, MQ, Bareeq al Shatti, and Oasis Mall.

Omantel Ibhar hotspots are scattered throughout Muscat, mainly in coffeeshops, restaurants, and shopping malls. Pre-paid Ibhar cards are available at any Omantel counter or at the hotspot location.

Cope
Emergency number (ambulance, fire and police) is 9999.

ATMs
ATMs are very common now, especially in the Embassy district and near most shopping malls, larger hotels, petrol stations and supermarkets. Also, every little neighbourhood has several bank branches.

Bank Muscat is by far the largest bank in Oman and one of the largest in Gulf. It has over 230 ATMs all around Muscat.

Gyms
There are some very good gymnasiums in the 4- to 5-star hotels and some privately run gyms in other places like Millennium Gym, and Horizon Gym. You may pay money for that extra with the number of days you stay in Muscat.

Hospitals

 * KIMS Oman Hospital, Darsait
 * Muscat Private Hospital, Ghubrah
 * Al Nahda Hospital, Ghubrah
 * Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al Hamriya
 * Al Shatti Hospital, Shatti al Qurum
 * Atlas Star Medical Centre, Bausher
 * Al Amal Medical Centre-Al Wadi Al Kabir, Al-Khuwair
 * Royal Hospital
 * Badr Al Sama Hospital-Ruwi, Al Khuwair, Al Khoud, Barka, Sohar, Salalah
 * Babylon Medical Centre, Amerat

Laundry
Laundry charges 4-star hotel are high. Prices are much lower at any of the numerous Indian run laundries, although clothes left on a Monday typically won't be ready until Wednesday.

Embassies

 * 🇧🇭 Bahrain
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇴 Jordan
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Drive west to Nizwa, and then go hiking or camping in the magnificent Hajar Mountains. Explore the fortresses in the area, and visit the UNESCO sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn.
 * Drive south for an hour to explore the spectacular Wadi Shab. Along the way check out the Bimmah Sinkhole, and then continue onwards to Sur.
 * Head north to Sohar for some good diving, visit Ibri and then continue onward to the Musandam Peninsula.

title: Muscat


text:
Muscatine

Muscatine is a city sitting alongside the Mississippi River in Eastern Iowa.

By car
If coming from the northwest or north, take Interstate 80 to exit 271. Then take U.S. Highway 6 West/S.R. 38 South. Muscatine is about 15 miles (24 km) south of I-80. From the east or northeast, take I-280 around Davenport and exit at U.S. Highway 61 South (exit 6). If coming from the southeast, take I-280 around Moline and exit at S.R. Highway 92 West (exit 11A).

Hailing from the south and on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River, take U.S. Highway 61 North/S.R. 92 East. If on the Illinois side of the river but inconvenient to get on I-74 North, S.R. 92 West will take you directly downtown after crossing over the river.

Do
Fishing and boating on the Mississippi River, or sit alongside the river and take in a sunset in downtown's Riverside Park.

title: Muscatine


text:
Muse

Muse is a small town in Le Flore county Oklahoma.

Get in
Located along state hwy 63 that run east-west along the valley south of Talimena Drive.

Go next

 * Talimena Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas 54 Mile scenic drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas along the ridge of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest. The drive has frequent turnouts so you can enjoy the scenery. Convenient access to the drive near the mid-point can be accessed by taking Hwy 59 south.

title: Muse


text:
Muse (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Muse or Mu-se:

Myanmar

 * Mu-se (Muse) - a city in Shan State, on the border with China

United States of America

 * Muse - a small town in Le Flore county, Oklahoma

title: Muse (disambiguation)


text:
Music festivals

 * This article is about a specific kind of music festivals. There are other events also called so, not covered here.

Not only can attending a music festival in another country be an opportunity to hear some fantastic music, but it can be a unique way to really get an understanding of the people of the country you are visiting and to make new friends that will last a lifetime.

Compiling a list of every major festival in every country would be close to impossible, and many of the best experiences can be found at smaller festivals, so keep an eye out in the local music press for what is happening in the country you are visiting.

Music festivals are an exhilarating experience, offering an opportunity to immerse yourself in live performances by your favorite artists and discover new talents. However, to fully enjoy these events, it's crucial to secure your tickets in advance.

 * 1) Research and Choose a Festival: The first step is to research various music festivals and choose the one that aligns with your musical preferences and fits your schedule. Consider factors such as the lineup, location, duration, and overall ambiance. Popular festivals include Coachella, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and Tomorrowland, but there are countless options worldwide.
 * 2) Visit the Official Festival Website: Once you've selected a festival, visit its official website. This is the primary source for accurate and up-to-date information about the event. Explore the website to learn about ticket options, pricing, camping options, and any additional perks or experiences available.
 * 3) Ticket Types and Pricing: Most music festivals offer different ticket tiers, such as general admission, VIP, and multi-day passes. General admission tickets are typically the most affordable, granting access to the festival grounds and stages. VIP tickets offer additional benefits like exclusive viewing areas, fast-track entry, and private lounges. Prices vary depending on the festival and the ticket type you choose, so carefully consider your budget and desired festival experience.
 * 4) Ticket Sale Dates: Music festival tickets usually go on sale months in advance. Check the festival website for information on ticket sale dates and times. Popular festivals often sell out quickly, so it's essential to mark your calendar and be prepared to purchase tickets as soon as they become available.
 * 5) Ticket Purchase Options: Most festivals offer online ticket sales as the primary method of purchase. Ensure that you have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer or smartphone. Some festivals may also have physical ticket outlets or authorized resellers. Be cautious when purchasing tickets from third-party sources to avoid scams or inflated prices.
 * 6) Create an Account: Before purchasing tickets online, you may need to create an account on the festival's website. This allows you to provide essential information and streamlines the checkout process. It's advisable to create an account in advance to save time when tickets are released.
 * 7) Prepare Payment Information: Make sure you have a valid credit or debit card ready for the ticket purchase. Familiarize yourself with the payment methods accepted by the festival. Some festivals also offer installment plans, allowing you to spread the cost over several months.
 * 8) Be Ready for the On-Sale Time: As the ticket sale date approaches, set reminders and alarms to ensure you're ready to purchase tickets at the designated time. Popular festivals may experience high demand, leading to website congestion and potential delays. Patience and persistence are key.
 * 9) Ticket Confirmation: Once you've successfully purchased your tickets, you should receive a confirmation email or digital ticket. Ensure that you save or print this confirmation as proof of purchase. Double-check the ticket details, including the festival dates, location, and any additional instructions.
 * 10) Ticket Transfers and Refunds: In some cases, unforeseen circumstances may prevent you from attending the festival. Check the festival's ticket transfer and refund policy to understand your options. Many festivals allow ticket transfers or offer refund protection plans for an additional fee.

Australia
Due to the distributed nature of the population, many music festivals in Australia are single-day affairs that tour the nation as opposed to the 3- to 5-day camping festivals of Europe. Some of the best include:

 * Big Day Out - Tours Australia (and formerly Auckland, New Zealand) - Jan-Feb. An Australian institution since it went nationwide in 1993, the BDO stops off in every Australian state. Huge variety of music from folk to heavy metal to experimental electronica.
 * Bluesfest - Byron Bay, New South Wales - Easter. Originally purely a blues festival, now has a wide range of genres.
 * Field Day - Sydney, New South Wales - 1 January. Dance music festival held in Sydney's Domain park every year on New Years Day.
 * Future Music Festival - Tours nationally - Feb-March. Formally known as two tribes until one of the two companies running it pulled out, this is the flagship event of Melbourne based Future entertainment. Primarily dance music acts, with the occasional notable exception (e.g. Franz Ferdinand in 2010)
 * Southbound - Busselton, Western Australia - January. European style camping festival near the holiday town of Busselton. One of the most family friendly festivals in the country.

Canada

 * Evolve Festival - Jailletville, New Brunswick - July
 * Folly Fest - Gagetown, New Brunswick - June–July
 * Halifax Pop Explosion - Halifax, Nova Scotia - October
 * Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival - Fredericton, New Brunswick
 * Montreal Jazz Festival - Montreal, Quebec - June–July
 * NXNE - Toronto, Ontatio - June
 * Osheaga - Montreal, Quebec - July–August
 * Ottawa Bluesfest - Ottawa, Ontario - July
 * Pemberton Festival - Pemberton, British Columbia - July
 * Shambhala - Salmo, British Columbia - August
 * Sunseekers Ball Music & Arts Festival - Chance Harbour, New Brunswick - August

Aruba

 * Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival - May
 * Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival - September / October

Jamaica

 * Reggae SumFest - Montego Bay - July

Mexico

 * EDC Mexico - Mexico City - February - Electric Daisy Carnival takes their Las Vegas rave to Mexico's enormous Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
 * San Pancho Music Festival - San Pancho, Nayarit - last weekend in February - hundreds of musicians on two stages, free admission, proceeds from merchandise sales go to musicians
 * Vive Latino - Mexico City - March - 2-day festival in the Foro Sol with Latin rockeros and international acts including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kinky, and Plastilina Mosh
 * Pa'l Norte - Monterrey - April - huge festival with stages in 8 areas of the city's enormous Parque Fundidora, 2023 headliners include top Latin and International artists like Billie Eilish, Blink 182, Cafe Tacvba, The Killers, Wisin y Yandel, 5 Seconds of Sumer, and many more.
 * Sundream Baja - San Jose del Cabo - May - 4-day weekend of music and sunshine featuring Rufus du Sol
 * Corona Capital - Mexico City - November - 3-day rock festival at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Performers include Arcade Fire, Pet Shop Boys, Blur, The Cure, Feist and many more.
 * Zamna Tulum - Tulum - December/January - a must for the techno enthusiast, an explosion of light and sound

USA

 * Allgood Music Festival-(Marvins mountain top, West Virginia) July
 * Austin City Limits Festival - Austin, Texas - Two weekend (6-day) festival featuring a wide variety of emerging and established acts.
 * Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis, Tennessee
 * Bonnaroo - Manchester, Tennessee - Four day music festival in June. Multiple stages of music featuring large variety of musical genres. The festival originally had a jam band focus but has since expanded.
 * Burning Man - Black Rock City, Nevada - Aug-Sept
 * Camp Bisco - Indian Head Country Club, New York - Electronic and jam band festival in July centered around the electronic jam band The Disco Biscuits. Genres such as dubstep have been heavily featured.
 * Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival - Indio, California - Three day festival held in April. While it was originally one weekend, there are now two consecutive weekends with both weekends generally having the same acts. It takes place in a desert setting and features established as well as emerging artists. Tent camping is allowed.
 * Detroit Electronic Music Festival - Detroit, Michigan - Electronic/dance music festival held on Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May) each year at Hart Plaza in Detroit. Generally features 5 stages and over 100 artists.
 * Folks Festival - Lyons, Colorado - August
 * Jam Along the Creek - Millmont, PA - Small three day music festival held at a campground (along a creek) in central Pennsylvania. Expect small local bands and a laid back atmosphere compared to many larger festivals (as well as cheaper tickets). The headlining act on Saturday is usually a Grateful Dead cover band.
 * Jazz Fest - New Orleans, Louisiana - April/May
 * Jazz Jubilee - Sacramento, California - May
 * Lollapalooza - Chicago - August
 * Monterey Jazz - Monterey, California - September
 * Mountain Jam - Hunter Mountain, New York- Four day festival held in June. There are four stages of music and attendees can camp onsite.
 * Newport Folk Festival - Newport, Rhode Island - July
 * Newport Jazz Festival - Newport, Rhode Island - August
 * Pitchfork Music Festival - Chicago - July
 * Rochester International Jazz Festival - Rochester, New York - June
 * Rock the Bells - San Francisco, San Bernardino, New York City, many others
 * RockyGrass - Lyons, Colorado - July
 * Rothbury Music Festival - Rothbury, Michigan - July
 * SXSW - Austin, Texas - March
 * Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, Colorado - June
 * VooDoo Music Experience - New Orleans, Louisiana - October/November
 * Wakarusa - Mulberry, Arkansas - June
 * Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival - Winfield, Kansas - September

Brazil

 * Lollapalooza - São Paulo, late March or early April
 * Rock in Rio - Rio de Janeiro, irregular rock festival first arranged in 1985, then in 1991 and more frequently during the 2000s, but there have also been "Rock in Rio" festivals taking place in Lisbon (every second year since 2004), Madrid and Las Vegas. Rock in Rio features some of the very biggest names in rock plus Brazilian bands.

Chile

 * Lollapalooza - Santiago

Borneo

 * RainForest Festival

Japan

 * Fuji Rock, - Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata - July
 * Summer Sonic, - Tokyo and Osaka - August

South Korea

 * Musicbank World Tour - A few times every year the Korean broadcaster KBS arranges a concert with different K-pop groups mostly around Asia but also elsewhere in the world. 2017 locations include Singapore, Dubai and Berlin.
 * Musicbank World Tour - A few times every year the Korean broadcaster KBS arranges a concert with different K-pop groups mostly around Asia but also elsewhere in the world. 2017 locations include Singapore, Dubai and Berlin.

Belgium

 * Pukkelpop - Kiewit - August

Denmark

 * Roskilde - Roskilde - Late June/Early July - Large camping festival about 30 mins by train form Copenhagen. Attracts a young crowd from all over Europe and the rest of the world. Campsite opens the Monday before the festival, with lots of smaller local acts playing in the days leading up to the main event. Very good facilities. With a wide variety of music there should be something for everyone.

Finland

 * Faces Etnofestival is an annual world and ethnic music festival since 1997 in Southern Finland. In 2016 the venue and time is the Fiskars Village, Raseborg on the first weekend of August.
 * Ilosaarirock - held in Joensuu on the second weekend of July, it is the second oldest rock festival in Finland still active since 1971, and one of the oldest in Europe. The festival gathers about 21,000 daily visitors and has been sold out in advance every year since 1998.
 * Pori Jazz - held in Pori in mid-July, it is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) festivals in Finland. Despite its name, the focus isn't on jazz any more, although jazz & blues can also be found.
 * Ruisrock - held in Turku in early July, this is the second oldest still running rock festival in Europe. Attended by over 100,000 guests every year, this is a place to see and hear pop and rock bands from Finland and abroad.

Germany

 * M'era Luna - Festival of industrial, metal, goth and darkwave music held in Hildesheim the second weekend in August.
 * Rock am Ring and Rock im Park - Two rock festivals that take place simultaneously. Rock am Ring takes place in Nürburg and Rock im Park takes place in Nuremberg.
 * Wacken Open Air - Heavy metal music festival taking place each summer in the small village of Wacken in northern Germany. This is one of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world, attracting bands from all sub-genres.

Netherlands
The largest music festivals of the country:

 * Dance Valley — Spaarnwoude
 * Defqon.1 — Biddinghuizen or Almere
 * Heineken Dance Parade — Rotterdam
 * Lowlands - Biddinghuizen
 * Mystery Land — Hoofddorp
 * North Sea Jazz — Rotterdam
 * Parkpop — The Hague
 * Pink Pop - Landgraaf
 * Sensation — Amsterdam
 * Uitmarkt — Amsterdam
 * Zomercarnaval — Rotterdam
 * Zwarte Cross — Achterhoek

Poland

 * Coke Live - Kraków, August
 * Off - Katowice, August
 * Open'er - Gdynia, beginning of July
 * Przystanek Woodstock - Kostrzyn, beginning of August
 * Unsound - Kraków, October

Portugal

 * Alive - Lisbon - June; Portugal's main pop and rock music festival; past acts have included Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Black Eyed Peas
 * FMM Sines - Sines - July; world music, folk and alternative; the event takes place in the seaside town of Sines in Southern Portugal.
 * Paredes de Coura Festival - Paredes de Coura - August; an important alternative and indie rock festival in the northern countryside, near the Spain / Galicia border.

Spain

 * Primavera Sound Festival - Barcelona - May–June
 * Sonar Festiva - Barcelona - June

Switzerland

 * Montreux Jazz Festival - Montreux - July
 * Street Parade - Zurich - Since the end of Berlin's Love Parade the largest annual technoparade and electronic music festival in the world with more than 1 million attendees.

UK

 * Bestival - Isle of Wight - Early September . Once considered a 'boutique' festival due to its smaller size this festival has grown considerably. Holding the record as the worlds largest costume party, dressing up is a must.
 * The Great Escape - Brighton - May. An annual pop and dance extravaganza held late summer. Capacity 25,000.
 * Glastonbury - Glastonbury - June. Needs no introduction. Even if it sells out the year before do not despair because there are many tickets returned and they will be available in the April before the festival. Typically it runs 3 out of every 4 years.
 * Leeds - Leeds - last weekend in August. Tickets: £180 for weekend (including camping & parking), or £75 for any day (no camping included) - rock and indie
 * Reading - Reading - - last weekend in August. Tickets: £180 for weekend (including camping & parking), or £75 for any day (no camping included) - rock and indie
 * Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts - Swansea - mid October - Tickets: concerts are paid for individually - classical and jazz - the second largest festival of its kind in the UK.
 * Womad - Malmesbury, Wiltshire - late July. Tickets: £160 for weekend - music, art and dance

Ukraine

 * Atlas Weekend - Kyiv - early July. €45 early bird pass for all 5 days.
 * Faine misto - Ternopil - late July.

Hungary

 * Sziget - Budapest - early August. €299 early bird pass for all 7 days.

Get in
The first thing you're going to need is a ticket. There is large demand for tickets to many of the major festivals with some selling out in a matter of hours, so get your tickets as soon as possible. Some festivals require you to register before you buy the tickets, so make sure you've done this before the tickets go on sale. If you have missed out on tickets or are strapped for cash it may still be possible to get into the event by volunteering to work at the event, as this is how many festivals find a lot of their staff. You will usually be expected to work a few hours a day doing small tasks like collecting rubbish or directing traffic. This can usually be arranged so that you will get to see most of the acts you want to see.

Stay safe
The usual rules regarding drugs and alcohol apply, only more so. As a general rule a festival like Glastonbury is not a safe place to take drugs, despite its reputation. Americans should note that European beers are generally stronger than US beers and people from other countries should note that American "light" beers are not necessarily lower in alcohol content, rather light may mean low calorie. Beyond that follow the usual rules: listen to what your body is telling you, know your limits and make sure your friends are looking out for you.

Also if you've come from a cooler climate like Northern Europe or North America to a festival in somewhere like Spain or Australia you'll be more prone to dehydration when in a mosh pit or raving for long periods of time, so keep a bottle of water on you at all times.

Toilets are also often a concern, especially if there are many people in attendance.

Trying to record the music will get you thrown out of most festivals. Legally your ticket is a license to hear the concert, but not to record it. The bands should get any profits from a "Live at ..." CD, not some "bootleg" vendor. Few bands will go quite as far as the Grateful Dead — who announced at Watkins Glen that their roadies had fire axes and would destroy any recording equipment they spotted — but probably most musicians would understand the feeling.

Sleep
For some festivals, the vast majority of those attending decide to camp on site, and most attendants consider it a vital part of the experience. If you want to be close to the action you're going to have to get in early to get a camping site close to the music. However you may want to consider the fact that the closer you are to the music the louder it will be and the less chance you will get a good night's sleep if you decide you've had enough. Remember that even though music on the main stages may have finished, there may be sections of the festival that will keep playing music until late into the night. Some festivals have special camping areas for families with young children.

If you don't feel that you can live without creature comforts, getting a hotel room near the festival is an option, but keep in mind that if the festival is well attended, demand for hotel rooms will be high not just from festival goers but also from the festival staff, so prices will be high. Also consider how far away you are from the festival and the amount of time it will take to get in every day. A better option, if the festival provides facilities to do this, may be to get a motor home and stay there, giving you significantly more comfort and privacy than camping while keeping you relatively close to the action.

title: Music festivals


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Musiri

Musiri is a city in Central Tamil Nadu.

Get in
Bus: 1]Trichy to Salem 2]Thuraiur to Karur

Train: Trichy to Erode, Coimbatore

Get around
Minibuses and autos are your best bet to getting around easily.

See
Tiruengomalai in namakkal road Iyer Malai on the opposite bank.

Do
Take a bath in the River Cauvery. The bridge across the river is the longest river bridge in Tamil Nadu. Take a snap of this bridge if you have a camera while pass by.

Buy
Banana is very very cheap around Musiri & Kulithalai

Eat
Idly is a typical food here. Also, Parotta & kuruma is awesome in some small hotels.Try Masala Dosa in some hotels.

Drink
tender coconut is a delicious drink available at each street corners.

Sleep
Number of good lodges available near musiri old bus stand as well as near new bus stand.

Go next
Musician Musiri Subramania Iyer, as the name indicates, is from Musiri. His house at 91 Agraharam is well preserved.

title: Musiri


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Muskegon

Muskegon is a city of 38,000 people (2018) in West Michigan. It offers miles of clean beaches on Lake Michigan, theater, a plethora of museums, bike trails and festivals.

By car
Muskegon is at the western terminus of the interstate highway, I-96. It is roughly 30 miles NW of Grand Rapids, via I-96. Also, US-31 runs north/south through Muskegon.

By bus
The Greyhound Bus System also has a stop in downtown Muskegon.

Get around
While in Muskegon, most visitors prefer to get from point A to point B by car - while locals may sometimes opt to use the Muskegon Area Transit System (MATS). Because of its proximity to award-winning beaches, visitors are highly encouraged to bring bicycles along for there are plenty of bike trails which run in the city and plenty throughout the county. A notable trail is the Musketawa bike trail which runs from just southeast of the city through the countryside to the city of Marne in Ottawa county.

See
The Pere Marquette Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan and adjoining the Muskegon Lake Channel is the only nationally certified "Clean Beach" on the Great Lakes. Miles of beach, gorgeous sunsets, outdoor dining possibilities, and a bike trail make this beach a must-see.

Museums and theater
Broadway at the Frauenthal (Fall through Spring), brings big-time Broadway musicals to Muskegon. Muskegon is also home to Muskegon Museum of Art and West Shore Symphony Orchestra. The Muskegon Community Concert Association provides concerts from September through May.

Camerata Singers, a professional chamber choir, performs at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Muskegon and other locations in west Michigan.

Do

 * in Norton Shores
 * in Norton Shores

Festivals
The Muskegon Film Festival is held in February.

Every June, since 1990, St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church hosts its annual Hispanic Fiesta. The fiesta is always held outside of the church at 1292 Jefferson Street, next to Muskegon High School. There are always live music performances, children's activities, ethnic foods, and more. It is a celebration of Hispanic heritage. They never charge admission, but there usually is a small charge for most food items and some activities.

Each August, the Unity Christian Music Festival takes place at Heritage Landing. In May, Rock the Coast takes place at Michigan's Adventure. Both are organized by Alive on the Lakeshore.

In September, the Michigan Irish Music Festival brings renowned Celtic musicians to Heritage Landing on the shore of Muskegon Lake. In addition to music, Irish food, beverages, merchandise and cultural exhibits contribute to the appeal of this event. The Michigan Feis (Irish Dance competition) is affiliated and is held at the LC Walker Arena nearby.

In early October, the International Buster Keaton Society visit Muskegon to host their annual convention. The event features public showings of Keaton films at the Frauenthal Theater.

Outdoor recreation

 * Lakeshore Bike Trail-Bike along the shores of Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan.

 * The Chronicle Seaway Run is run every year in late June. It features a 15k race, 5k race, 5k walk for fun, 15k wheelchair race.

Buy
In and around the Muskegon area there are numerous shopping areas
 * The Lakes Mall area near Harvey and Sternberg Roads
 * Sherman Blvd west of US 31
 * Henry Street corridor
 * Downtown Muskegon
 * Apple Avenue near US 31

Sleep

 * Charming Cottage by Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, 3312 Wilcox Avenue,, Discover relaxation, comfort, and charm in your restored, fully furnished cottage home in Muskegon, Michigan. $600 - 1,150 per week.

Stay safe
In general terms, Muskegon tends to be a safe city, though however, it is best to avoid central Muskegon (Wood Street, etc.) at night, a normal degree of caution to be taken when in these areas. The adjacent city to the south, Muskegon Heights, is best to be avoided at all times, due to an extremely high risk of crime.

Unless you are a big fan of motorcycles, motorcycle clubs, or being catcalled by bikers of all shapes and sizes, stay clear of Muskegon during Bike Time (mid-July).

title: Muskegon


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Muskogee

Muskogee is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma.

Understand
Muskogee, seat of the eponymous county, is one of the larger Oklahoma municipalities, at around 37,000 people. Back in 1830, when Andrew Jackson sent many indigenous people packing with his mean-spirited Indian Removal Act of 1830, this area became a center of government for the "Five Civilized Tribes" at a place called The Indian Agency. Of course, white settlement didn't stop with the Southeast and eventually made its way to Indian Territory, where land rushes in 1889 led to the start of communities like Muskogee, which became incorporated in 1898. An entrepreneur by the name of Charles Haskell made great strides to develop the town, with a downtown sector and railroads that came to be called the Muskogee Roads. The Five Civilized Tribes tried to secure a political state called the State of Sequoyah for their own autonomy, but it was in vain, as President Teddy Roosevelt and Congress struck it down.

Today, many people know Muskogee from the Merle Haggard song "Okie From Muskogee," and the city bears some signs of turmoil with poverty and crime. For instance, 2010 saw the advent of a mass shooting at the Arrowhead Mall.

Get in
A meshwork of highways connect Muskogee to the rest of the world, but State Highway 351, also known as the Muskogee Turnpike, is a principal thoroughfare for one directly connecting the city to Tulsa. No commercial passenger air or train service is available.

Get around

Otherwise, a personal vehicle might be your best bet to get around, unless you really like to ride a bike.

title: Muskogee


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Muskoka

The Muskoka area of Ontario, Canada is a rolling expanse of forest and lake, quietly beautiful. Highlights of the area include Georgian Bay with its rocky inlets and wood-lined shores. It was scenery like this - and further east, in the Algonquin - that inspired Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven painters. The view, as evening falls over the silver water, broken by the low outlines of islands (there are about 30,000 in the Bay) is hauntingly beautiful.

Towns
North to south:
 * — the largest community in the district.
 * — a cluster of communities and cottages surrounding one of the region's larger lakes.
 * - includes some of Muskoka's best-known lakes, including Lakes Joseph and Rosseau, and communities between both the main highways, such as Bala and Port Carling.
 * — a small town, with some spectacular falls.
 * — the self-proclaimed "Gateway to Muskoka".

Other destinations

 * — 63 islands in the world's largest freshwater archipelago, including the historic Beausoleil Island
 * — it's the first dark-sky preserve in Canada and known for its geological and environmental features

Understand
The District of Muskoka covers a large area, but has a permanent population of only about 60,000 people (2016), living mainly in small towns. In summer, the population swells by 100,000 as seasonal residents arrive from Ontario's cities, and tourists come from all over. While Muskoka is physically similar throughout, experiences can vary depending on where you visit, as some are more laid back than others. Much of Muskoka, especially around Georgian Bay or any other body of water, is private property. Towns such as Honey Harbour are filled with fenced cottages whose residents may not be very welcoming. The many provincial parks in the area offer parking, facilities, access to the water and campgrounds.

If you are interested in boating, do not expect to find boat rentals by Muskoka's lakes. If you drive in through Barrie, it has several rental shops you can stop at before heading further north.

History
Largely the land of the Ojibwa First Nations (Indigenous) people, European inhabitants ignored it while settling what they thought were the more promising area south of the Severn River. The Ojibwa leader associated with the area was "Mesqua Ukie", for whom the land is believed named, as he was liked by the European Canadians. The tribe lived south of the region, near present-day Orillia. They used Muskoka as their hunting grounds.

Until the late 1760s, the European presence in the region was largely limited to seasonal fur trappers. Following the American War of Independence, the British North America government began exploring the region, hoping to develop a settled population and find travel lanes between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay.

Canada and Muskoka experienced heavy immigration from Europe in the 19th century. Settlers from the United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent, Germany began to arrive. Logging licences were issued in 1866. The lumber industry expanded rapidly, denuding huge tracts of the area. Road and water transportation was developed and used later to facilitate town settlement. The Muskoka Colonization Road was begun in 1858 and reached Bracebridge in 1861.

In 1868, the era of widespread settlement began as settlers could receive free land if they agreed to clear the land, have at least 15 acres (6.1 ha) under cultivation, and build a 16x20 ft (30 m²) house. Consisting largely of a dense clay, the soil in the region turned out to be poorly suited to farming.

In a time when the railways had not yet arrived and road travel was notoriously unreliable and uncomfortable, the transportation king was the steamship. Once a land connection was made to the southern part of the lake in Gravenhurst, the logging companies could harvest trees along the entire lakefront with relative ease. Steamships gave them the way to ship the harvest back to the sawmills in Gravenhurst.

Shortly after the arrival of the steamships, the tourism industry began to flourish as agriculture never did. Tourist camps were followed by boarding houses and then hotels as visitors were drawn by the fishing and the natural environment.

The railway pushed north to support the industry, reaching Gravenhurst in 1875 and Bracebridge in 1885. The lumber industry spawned a number of ancillary developments, with settlements springing up to supply the workers. The railway also made the district easily accessible to the wealthy of Toronto, New York and Pittsburgh who came to the luxury hotels on the shores of Muskoka's lakes. Many were so entrances by the region's beauty that they built luxury houses in the area, beginning Muskoka's role as "cottage country".

Get in
You can reach Muskoka on a day trip from Toronto. Since it is such a large area, travel times can vary. From Toronto, most tend to take Highway 400 north, through Barrie, then have a choice of whether to continue on the 400 or change to Highway 11. The former generally takes you to western areas of Muskoka (i.e. Port Severn, Midland), while the latter takes you to the more well known cities of the area (i.e. Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville).

Since there are so many lakes between the two highways and around them, there are hundreds of winding "cottage" roads taking a traveller to more specific areas and smaller towns, such as Bala and Rosseau. The main highways between the major two are highways 169, 118, and 69.

Ontario Northland provides bus service to Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst from Toronto, Barrie and North Bay (with connections in North Bay to Ottawa, Sudbury, Timmins, and beyond).

Muskoka Airport, between Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, gets seasonal summer flights from Toronto on FlyGTA.

Get around
By car, or by boat. The intercity buses that travel to Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst may make stops on request at smaller settlements along their routes.

See
The Lady Muskoka Steamship offers 2-3 hour cruises on the lakes, lunch cruises, dinner cruises from Bracebridge in the summer. Muskoka Steamships in Gravenhurst offers boat cruises lasting from an hour to a full day on 3 connecting lakes. Vessels include the coal-fired steamship RMS Segwun built in 1887.

Bracebridge Falls in downtown Bracebridge.

The Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery is an outdoor trail in downtown Huntsville that features over 80 mural replicas showcasing the works of the Group of Seven painters who were importantly 20th-century Canadian artists.

Do
Renting a cottage is really the thing to do, although it won't be cheap. Swimming, canoeing, relaxing at the lakeside, cocktails in the late afternoon, a barbecue, marvelling at the constellations in the night sky, hearing the loon call across the lake... these are classic Canadian wilderness experiences best enjoyed in a rugged landscape like Muskoka.

Several large parks provide access to the rugged landscape and lakes to daytrippers or landlocked cottagers. Six Mile Lake Provincial Park provides car camping and canoeing in Muskoka Lakes, along the Highway 400 corridor. Most of the lake's shoreline is private property, but the park is still ideal for a day trip into Muskoka. Arrowhead Provincial Park is open year-round for camping, hiking, biking, crosscountry skiing, and skating near Huntsville. It's connected to Algonquin Park by Big East River, a waterway park ideal for canoeing or kayaking. Other parks do not provide camping or any visitor services, such as Bigwind Lake near Bracebridge, which is open for day-use activities including mountain biking, canoeing, fishing and snowshoeing.

Eat
Well-known chains and fast-food options are easy to find along the highway for a quick rest-stop, but you'll also find a wide range of local restaurants, from family-style eateries and pubs serving comfort food, to steakhouses and elegant resort restaurants.

Of course, backyard barbecuing and dining on your own cottage patio (or campsite picnic table) is a staple of a cottage getaway. In addition to Ontario's typical grocery store chains, you'll also find smaller gourmet grocers and general stores with some uniquely local (or at least locally branded) products to try at home. Independent butchers and bakeries provide a supply of fresh meats and breads to make sure that cottage BBQs aren't limited to basic hamburgers.

Several bakeries also specialize in their own butter tart recipe - a popular pastry invented in Central Ontario. The recipes tends to vary, as each baker stakes claim to a secret variation in crust or filling that makes that makes their own tart the "best in town". Anyone with a sweet tooth won't regret a detour to do their own taste test, and grabbing a box on the way up to a cottage or on the way home can be a delicious way to win friends.

Drink
A good place to party in the summer months, when it is much busier. There are places to drink around the towns, ranging from small places to fairly large establishments. The Kee to Bala is a large, popular venue with concerts throughout the summer, located in Bala (Muskoka Lakes)

Several breweries throughout the region include taprooms or brewpubs, and also sell freshly brewed beer directly to cottagers by the can or, for larger gatherings, by the keg (with advance reservation). Lake of Bays Brewing Co. has its brewery in Baysville (Lake of Bays), and has brewpubs in Bracebridge and Huntsville. Muskoka Brewery operates a taproom and brewery near Bracebridge. Sawdust City Brewing Co. is in Gravenhurst, with a retail store, brewpub and taproom.

Sleep
There are cottages for rent throughout Muskoka, but they won't be cheap as Muskoka cottages are highly prized among Toronto's wealthier denizens. There is also a range of golf resorts, hotels, inns, B&Bs and campgrounds at wide range of prices and quality.

Stay safe
May, early spring for the areas, is peak time for blackfly and mosquitoes.

Go next

 * Algonquin Provincial Park - east of Huntsville on Highway 60. Offers spectacular hiking, canoeing and camping in a vast and beautiful provincial park. Visitors can often see moose along Highway 60. The interior of the park can only be visited by canoe or foot as part of a backcountry camping trip, but there are also self-guided trails and eight car campgrounds for the less adventuresome.
 * Barrie - in Simcoe County, on Lake Simcoe to the south of Muskoka. The city is a hub for watersports and boating. It's at the crossroads of Highways 400, 11, and 26, giving road-trippers a few routes to choose from.
 * Haliburton Highlands - a large rural area to the east. The landscape will look familiar coming from Muskoka, but further from the major highways and towns, Haliburton's lakes, forests, and cottages can feel a bit quieter.
 * Parry Sound - in Ontario's Near North, toward the northern end of Highway 400. The town accommodates cottagers heading further north, or toward the shores of Georgian Bay.
 * Toronto - Canada's largest city, about from Gravenhurst at the south end of Muskoka, to downtown. In addition to the busy shopping streets, markets, museums, galleries, and skyscrapers, Toronto is at the centre of the Greater Toronto Area, with restaurants representing cuisines from around the world, and recreation that takes advantage of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario shore.

title: Muskoka


text:
Musselburgh

Musselburgh is the largest town in East Lothian in central Scotland, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre. It's an old fishing port which is now part of the commuter belt, with a population in 2020 of 21,100.

Understand
The Romans were fond of mussels, as good a reason as any to camp here circa 80 AD. They built a bridge over the River Esk that (now in its third incarnation) still stands: the town's High Street was aligned with it but the New Bridge opened in 1806 to carry the Great North Road (the later A1), and the town developed a second spine. In the mid-1980s the A1 was diverted onto a bypass to the south. To the west, Musselburgh adjoins the Edinburgh suburbs of Portobello and Joppa. To the south was the coal-mining district of Newcraighall, now redeveloped, where Inveresk has somehow survived as a charming 17th / 18th century village. The main reason to visit Musselburgh is to go to the races.

Get in
For long-distance routes by air, rail or bus, see Edinburgh. From the airport take Skylink Bus 400 to Fort Kinnaird, then local buses for the last 3 miles into town.

By bus
For long-distance coaches change in Edinburgh: these fly past on the A1 and don't call at Musselburgh. Lothian Buses 15, 26, 30 and 44 run to Musselburgh from Edinburgh.

East Coast Buses X5, 124 & X24 run from Edinburgh Fountainbridge along Princes St (close to but not into the bus station) then via Musselburgh along the coast road to North Berwick. They run daily every 30-60 min.

East Coast Bus 104 runs every 30 min from Edinburgh West End and Princes St via Musselburgh, Wallyford and Tranent to Haddington. East Coast Bus 106 starts from Fort Kinnaird then follows the same route from Musselburgh to Haddington; change at Haddington for buses to Dunbar and Berwick-upon-Tweed. East Coast Bus 113 runs from Edinburgh West End via Brunstane to Musselburgh then via Wallyford, Tranent and Ormiston to Pencaitland.

Night bus N26 runs hourly midnight-4AM from Edinburgh to Joppa, Musselburgh, Prestonpans and Seton Sands. At weekends night buses also run from city centre via Musselburgh to Dunbar (N106) and North Berwick (N124).

East Coast Bus 140 runs from Penicuik via Roslin (for Rosslyn Chapel), Loanhead and Dalkeith.

By train
has trains hourly from Edinburgh Waverley (6 min), which continue to Wallyford (for racecourse), Prestonpans, Longniddry,  Drem and North Berwick. Trains from Dunbar also stop here every couple of hours, but most trains whirl straight through - coming from Newcastle and the south you go into Edinburgh and change.

The station is half a mile south of town centre. It has ticket machines but no staffed office, and no toilets. There are ramps to both platforms.

has trains along the Borders Railway every 30 min from Edinburgh via Brunstane to Newtongrange (for the Mining Museum), Galashiels (for buses to Melrose, Jedburgh, Selkirk, Hawick and Carlisle) and Tweedbank (for Abbotsford House). This station is a Park & Ride for the city.

By road
From central Edinburgh follow A1 Milton Road onto A199; from anywhere else in the city join the city bypass A720 and loop around.

Cyclists may not use A720 City Bypass or the A1 - follow A199 the old route of the Great North Road.

Get around
The main town and racecourse are all walkable. Buses between High Street and the railway station are Lothian Bus 30 and East Coast Bus 106.

Taxi firms in town are Toun Taxis (+44 131 665 0077), Mac Travel (+44 7484 879684) and Dash Taxis (+44 131 665 1000).

See

 * is the 17th century fishing harbour, now used by leisure craft.
 * Town centre retains its old street pattern but is mostly modern.
 * was built around 80 AD and thereby defined the historic route towards Edinburgh. It was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in 1597, the version you see today. In 1806 the New Bridge was built downstream and re-aligned the route.
 * are reclaimed land just north of the racecourse. Lots of resident and migratory birds here, and concrete observation hides.
 * of 1547 is commemorated by a stone plaque at the south edge of town. In "the Rough Wooing", Henry VIII tried to force Scotland into alliance with England, and to forego links with France. It was yet another calamitous defeat for Scotland, but the English failed to capitalise, the child Mary Queen of Scots was spirited away to marry the future king of France, and the realms remained separate until the 1603 Union of the Crowns.
 * are reclaimed land just north of the racecourse. Lots of resident and migratory birds here, and concrete observation hides.
 * of 1547 is commemorated by a stone plaque at the south edge of town. In "the Rough Wooing", Henry VIII tried to force Scotland into alliance with England, and to forego links with France. It was yet another calamitous defeat for Scotland, but the English failed to capitalise, the child Mary Queen of Scots was spirited away to marry the future king of France, and the realms remained separate until the 1603 Union of the Crowns.
 * of 1547 is commemorated by a stone plaque at the south edge of town. In "the Rough Wooing", Henry VIII tried to force Scotland into alliance with England, and to forego links with France. It was yet another calamitous defeat for Scotland, but the English failed to capitalise, the child Mary Queen of Scots was spirited away to marry the future king of France, and the realms remained separate until the 1603 Union of the Crowns.

Do

 * The Brunton on Ladywell Way is a two-auditorium theatre with a year-round programme.
 * Rugby: Musselburgh RFC play rugby union in the Premiership, the amateur top tier in Scotland. Their home ground is Stoneyhill west bank of the river.
 * Lammermuir Festival is classical music in Musselburgh and other venues across East Lothian. It's next held 5-16 Sept 2024.
 * Rugby: Musselburgh RFC play rugby union in the Premiership, the amateur top tier in Scotland. Their home ground is Stoneyhill west bank of the river.
 * Lammermuir Festival is classical music in Musselburgh and other venues across East Lothian. It's next held 5-16 Sept 2024.
 * Rugby: Musselburgh RFC play rugby union in the Premiership, the amateur top tier in Scotland. Their home ground is Stoneyhill west bank of the river.
 * Lammermuir Festival is classical music in Musselburgh and other venues across East Lothian. It's next held 5-16 Sept 2024.

Buy

 * Aldi west side of town centre is open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-8PM.
 * The big local shopping centre is Fort Kinnaird, 3 miles west along Newhailes Road.

Eat

 * Mussels served here may be Scottish but won't be local: the burgh's mussel beds were lost by the 20th century to over-harvesting and pollution. For centuries they had provided food, marl for fertiliser and construction, and a habitat for other marine life. There are initiatives to re-establish beds elsewhere in Britain, but it's unlikely to be feasible here so close to city industry.
 * High Street east of the river has Caprice, Miro's Village, Dragon Inn, Parilla Buenos Ayres (below), Shish Mahal, Luca's (below) and Dal Patino.
 * Bridge Street west of the river has Lanna Thai, Elena di Rollo (below), Gurkha, East Coast (below), Mario's Pizza, Koh-i-Noor and Frying Scotsman.
 * Bridge Street west of the river has Lanna Thai, Elena di Rollo (below), Gurkha, East Coast (below), Mario's Pizza, Koh-i-Noor and Frying Scotsman.
 * Bridge Street west of the river has Lanna Thai, Elena di Rollo (below), Gurkha, East Coast (below), Mario's Pizza, Koh-i-Noor and Frying Scotsman.

Drink

 * East of the river are Riverside Tavern, Coach and Horses, The Willow, The Sportsman (below) and Horseshoe Tavern.
 * West of the river are Auld Brig Tavern, The David MacBeth Moir (below), Staggs (aka Volunteer Arms), Anchor Bar, and Ship Inn which has rooms.
 * West of the river are Auld Brig Tavern, The David MacBeth Moir (below), Staggs (aka Volunteer Arms), Anchor Bar, and Ship Inn which has rooms.

Sleep

 * King's Manor half a mile north near Brunstane railway station is in Joppa, see Edinburgh/East.
 * King's Manor half a mile north near Brunstane railway station is in Joppa, see Edinburgh/East.
 * King's Manor half a mile north near Brunstane railway station is in Joppa, see Edinburgh/East.
 * King's Manor half a mile north near Brunstane railway station is in Joppa, see Edinburgh/East.

Connect
As of July 2023, Musselburgh and its approach roads have 5G from all UK carriers.

Go next

 * Edinburgh borders Musselburgh to the west. The big attractions are the Old Town and New Town, while other city areas convenient for Musselburgh are:
 * Portobello is the city's seaside resort. Arcade games, fish & chips and a nice promenade walk; the beach itself isn't much.
 * Leith is the old port and still in use. See the Royal Yacht Britannia and explore the cobbled Georgian centre.
 * South side is Arthur's Seat, Duddingston and Craigmillar Castle.
 * Go east along A198 the coast road to Gullane and North Berwick, for sand hills, golf courses, and the crags of North Berwick Law and Bass Rock.
 * The main road A1 breaks free of suburbs at Haddington. Continue east to Dunbar, and a series of attractive little coves and harbours in the cliffs of Berwickshire.

title: Musselburgh


text:
Mussoorie

Mussoorie is a hill station in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Understand
With its green hills and varied flora and fauna, Mussoorie is a fascinating hill resort and a fabulous honeymoon spot. Commanding a wonderful view of extensive Himalayan snow ranges to the northeast and glittering views of the Doon Valley, Roorkee, Saharanpur and Haridwar to the South, the town presents a fairyland atmosphere to tourists. Its history dates back to 1827 when Captain Young, an adventurous military officer, explored the site and laid the foundation of this holiday resort. Mussoorie is famous for its scenic beauty and hectic social life.

Climate
At an altitude of over, Mussoorie is a popular retreat from the heat of the plains. Be prepared for the cold if you come in the winter (Dec-Feb), when you can expect freezing weather and snow. The monsoon arrives in July and stays through to mid-September.

By bus
Buses leave from Dehradun train station. There are two buses which go to opposite ends of the Mussoorie Mall, Library and Picture Palace. It is quite a hike from one to the other, so make sure you catch the right one. To reach Kempty Falls directly from Dehra Dun catch a bus from the Dehra Dun Railway station Hill Bus Services Section or take a taxi. You should look for buses heading for destinations like Barkot, Nainbagh, Yamunotri, and Purola (Caution:sometimes Purola buses go via Vikas nagar which may take you off the route completely so be careful). You can also take a bus to the Library end of Mussoorie and walk to the Kempty Bus stop and take a bus or taxi or a milkvan or even hitch a ride with a tourist going in that direction!! Bus fee for Library end or Kulri end (from Dehradun) is ₹47. Toll Tax is payable on entering Kempty Village per bus/taxi/car/scooter. Bus fare from library end to Kempty is around ₹15.

By taxi
It is possible to hire a taxi for the trip up to Mussoorie. Rates are ₹610 per taxi and ₹50 extra for the night charges but you can pay per seat as well in a shared taxi which normally accommodates up to five passengers. Shared or chartered taxis too are available near the same Hill Section Bus terminal and the rates are controlled by the taxi union. These rates are generally displayed on a board outside their office.

Mussoorie is just 38 km from Dehradun and you can reach here by taxis and buses. It takes approximately one and a half hour and ₹47 for the regular buses to reach Mussoorie. From the Dehradun railway station, taxis charge around ₹610. Shared taxis charging a little over ₹100 per person are also available.

Get around
Once in Mussoorie, the affordable and effective way to get around the city is to opt for bus system or cycle rickshaws. Cycle rickshaws for traveling within city may cost approximately ₹20. However, it may get crowded, especially during peak hours. For most part you will want to get around on foot. The Mall is closed to most vehicles.

By rickshaw
A relatively flat section of the Mall allows a fleet of rickshaws to ply their trade. You can catch a ride from the Library end of the Mall to about the midpoint.

A full day of Mussoorie sightseeing by rickshaw is less costly compared to private cabs or taxis. But it is time consuming. So taxis are preferable if you are in a hurry and are prepared to pay the extra money.

By taxi
Taxis are not a useful form of transport within Mussoorie. If you are heading up to Landour with your luggage, it would be wise to catch a ride. They can also be hired for outings to places such as Kempty Falls or Happy Valley. There are taxi stands at both ends of the Mall. Many locals offer 'taxi' services, and if you are staying longer you will likely find these (slightly cheaper) alternatives. But all the taxis are under a union, so the rates will not vary and one has to hire them through the union office at library end, mall road, kempty bus stand etc.

You can also rent a private car which will be a little costly but less time-consuming. A complete day of sightseeing around the city by taxi including Dhanoltri and Kempty Falls costs more than ₹1800.

Pubs & bars
The alcohol is not easily available in the city, so the list of pubs and bars is very short.

Stay safe
It is very safe to be in Mussoorie throughout the year. However, visitors are advised to stay cautious during the monsoon season. The only thing visitors have to consider is to stay indoors as it may rain continuously during the rainy season.

The standard rules of safety like being alert with strangers and not to hang out in strange places will apply to everyone. If you are travelling alone then it is advisable to stay in a hotel in Mussoorie itself and not in a remote area.

Mobile phones
You need to provide a Photo ID and a photograph to subscribe for either a postpaid or prepaid mobile phone connection.

Go next

 * Kanatal – It is located around 33 km from Mussoorie and now emerging as one of the popular destinations in Uttarakhand. The peacefulness of this place attracts many visitors from different corners of India.
 * Lakha Mandal - 80 km from the Mussoorie, the site has got special archaeological importance.
 * Naga Tibba  - Around 55 km away from Mussoorie, it is highly exciting place for trekkers. Naga Tibba is highest peak around the city with height of 3,000 m. In order to reach such an adventurous place, one has to drive 35 km and then travel remaining distance doing the trek. Visitors also get an opportunity to interact with locals of Garhwali villages while doing the trek.
 * Surkhanda Devi Temple - Around 35 km from the city, the temple demands a stiff climbing of more than 2 km from devotees. The road to Surkhanda Devi temple passes through highly dense forest having rich flora and fauna. While doing the trek, you can get majestic view of panoramic snow along the spectacular Himalayan range.
 * Yamunotri- A great pilgrim temple at the height of 4,000 metres above the sea level. You can do a trek to Dodital from Hanumanchatti nearby.
 * Yamunotri- A great pilgrim temple at the height of 4,000 metres above the sea level. You can do a trek to Dodital from Hanumanchatti nearby.

title: Mussoorie


text:
Mustang

There's more than one place called Mustang:

Nepal

 * Mustang (Nepal) (Mustan, or Kingdom of Lo; Mustang district) - a kingdom and district in the Himalaya

United States of America

 * Mustang - a city in the Frontier Country of Oklahoma
 * Mustang - a town in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas

title: Mustang


text:
Mutarara

Mutarara is a city in Central Mozambique.

Understand
Mutarara is notable for being at the northern end of the Dona Ana Bridge, the longest railway bridge in Africa. Until 2009, it was the lowest fixed crossing point on the river; a new road bridge at Caia is now the lowest. It is still possible to cross on foot.

Get in
Walking from Vila de Sena at the southern end of the bridge is possible. Vila de Sena can be reached by dirt road from Caia or Tete.

By car, Mutarara can be reached via Morrumbala. This requires a crossing on a hand cranked ferry. The ferry operates during normal working hours only and not between 12:00-14:00. It may not operate in adverse weather/river flow.

See
The bridge is the main attraction. The town and the bridge have good views of the Zambezi river.

Drink
There are some bars with good views of the bridge and the Zambezi river.

title: Mutarara


text:
Mutare

Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe.

Get in
Although Mutare has a small airstrip there are no regular scheduled services; however airtaxi or small private planes may land. The nearest international gateway is in the capital, Harare.

National Railways of Zimbabwe runs an overnight train service from Harare three times a week, leaving Harare at 9:30PM on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Arrival time is early morning the next day just after dawn, at 5:20AM according to schedule. Services have been in decline for the past few years, don't expect top-notch conditions. The 2nd class sleeper fare is $5. There are no cross-border rail services from Mozambique. is southwest of the city centre.

Roads are decent and asphalted but potholes are common. Highway A3 leads inland towards Harare while A9 turns southwards. Across the border to the east is EN9 which connects with the coastal city of Beira. Traffic can be heavy since this is one of Zimbabwe's main routes to the ocean. There is also a lot of cross-border traffic with people visiting the nearby cities of Manica and Chimoio

Commuter buses are a popular way of travelling for traffic across the border and from outlying villages. Expect a rough ride however! Long-distance buses are also available from Harare.

There are buses from Johannesburg in South Africa.

Do
The National Arts Gallery and Courtauld Theatre are two places in Mutare where you can go to experience some culture.

Buy
Stone sculptures can be found cheaply at the intersection going to the Mozambique border.

Eat

Karen’s kitchen (Lunch), Green Coucal (lunch), Nando’s, Chinese in 1st street in Mutare, Hillside Sports Club (Good curry), Portuguese Club (prawns and chicken), Greek Club (good chicken), Wise Owl (go for the steak), Calvary (best sadza in town), Mira Sol (chicken or pasta) and Fasho.

White Horse Inn and Tony’s Café (great cakes) are very good and somewhat expensive places to eat in Bvumba.

Go next

 * Chimanimani A small town with great hiking trails.
 * Chimoio Head into Mozambique.
 * Chipinge
 * Rusape

title: Mutare