text:
Eastern Dominican Republic

The Eastern Region is a region of Dominican Republic. It has a plain landscape of sugarcane plantations, and the world-famous beaches and resorts at Casa de Campo, Punta Cana, Cap Cana and Bavaro.

Regions
Punta Cana

Understand
The most important tourist destinations in the Eastern Region of the Dominican Republic are the beaches of Punta Cana and Bavaro. These two beaches are filled with all-inclusive hotels, very popular among Europeans and North Americans. All these hotels are very safe and are a showcase of Dominican hospitality. For those seeking to escape the rather artificial paradise of Punta Cana and Bavaro, the closest town where tourists can witness the Dominican reality is that of Higüey, the religious center of the country. The "Basilica de Higüey" is the scene of intense local pilgrimage every January.

To the South, you will find the city of La Romana, contiguous to the world-famous resort of Casa de Campo, where the rich and wealthy of the Dominican Republic and the world have their beach residences. Casa de Campo has the country's best golf courses, as well as a beautiful and fancy Marina, smaller than that of Cap Cana. Tourists should not miss the tourist town of Altos de Chavón, the replica of a Renaissance Italian village, home to one of the Caribbean's most important art schools, overlooking a cliff and the Chavón River. Its replica of a Roman Amphitheater is the scene of multiple shows and concerts. Close to La Romana is the beach of Bayahibe, another alternative to Punta Cana. Also, those who are looking for infinite white-sand beaches but hate huge hotels and resorts can explore the Saona Island off the southeastern coast, offering the same natural beauty of Punta Cana, but undefiled by mass tourism.

Destinations off the beaten path include first the chaotic town of San Pedro de Macoris, home to the most famous Dominican baseball players such as Sammy Sosa and Pedro Martinez. The town is surrounded by "Bateys" or sugar-cane plantations, offering a stark contrast with the resorts. To the North, you will find the beach of Miches, which the locals have made impressive efforts to develop on their own, providing for an alternative more authentic tourist destination without any of the fancy all-inclusive resorts that plague the East Coast. Miches is close to Los Haitises National Park. The park has an outstanding natural beauty, displaying a beautiful tropical rain-forest, and unending chains archipelagos that are readily explorable by boat.

By boat

 * La Romana Cruise Terminal
 * Casa de Campo Marina

title: Eastern Dominican Republic


text:
Eastern El Salvador

Eastern El Salvador is a region of El Salvador.

Other destinations

 * , including Playa El Esteron, Intipuca Beach and Playa Las Flores
 * , for its beautiful mountains and its cultural and historical interests.

Understand
This region is bounded by Honduras to the North and East and the Pacific Ocean to the South. It includes the departments of San Miguel, La Unión, Morazán, San Vicente and Usulután.

By road
The Pan-American highway travels through El Salvador and is a safe route for entering the country and travelling between San Miguel in the East and San Salvador in the West

By boat
La Unión reportedly has a ferry connection to Corinto, Nicaragua passing through the Golfo de Fonseca and thus bypassing Honduras.

Get around
From San Miguel bus terminal there are regular one hour bus rides to El Cuco where you can get a taxi to Playa El Esteron and Intipuca Beach

See

 * San Miguel Volcano is a stratovolcano and one of the most active in the country.
 * Downtown San Miguel Av. Roosevelt is the place to find the Metrecentro Mall, bars and nightclubs which also hosts the biggest festival in Central America in November
 * El Cuco is a quintessential beach with dark sands, lined with vendor huts and seafood restaurants and shaggy palms
 * Playa Las Flores is next to El Cuco and is regarded as one of the best surf spots in all of El salvador
 * Playa El Esteron is located on the other side of El Cuco and is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in all of El Salvador
 * Intipuca Beach is next to Playa Esterone and is famous for El Salvador's first microbrewery and where the river joins the ocean is hugely popular for stand up paddleboarding.

Do

 * Surfing in Playa Las Flores, one of the best surf spots in El Salvador
 * Stand Up Paddleboarding at the famous Intipuca Beach
 * Boat trips around the islands
 * Water skiing, Tubing, Wake boarding, Para sailing, Jet skiing in Playa El Esteron, one of the most beautiful beaches in El Salvador
 * Kayaking through the mangroves
 * Volcano hiking up Chaparrastique - One of the most active volcanoes in El Salvador
 * Waterfalls and hot springs
 * Nature hikes and lake tours to Isla de Olomega on Lake Olomega

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

title: Eastern El Salvador


text:
Eastern Greenland

The East Coast of Greenland is not as densely inhabited as the West, and is thus more of an "off the beaten track" destination than the west.

Cities

 * , also known as Ammassalikk for its municipality and the island it is on – the largest city in Eastern Greenland
 * – one of the largest towns in Eastern Greenland
 * – near the Northeast Greenland National Park

Talk
East Greenlandic is the local language, and contains a number of variations from the West Greenlandic "official" language of Greenland. As with the rest of the country, Danish is commonly spoken and many people will have a functional command of English.

Get in
There are two airports along the eastern cost, Kulusuk and Nerlerit Inaat. Both require helicopter transfer to the main settlements in their neighbourhood, Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit. Both airports have flights from the west coast by Air Greenland and in the summertime from Iceland by Icelandair.
 * By plane

title: Eastern Greenland


text:
Chaoshan

Chaoshan (潮汕 Cháoshàn) is a region in Guangdong Province in China. The region takes its name from the its two main cities of Chaozhou (潮州) and Shantou (汕头).

Cities
The region consists of four prefecture-level cities, with two of those prefecture-level cities having county-level cities under their jurisdiction.

 * — the main cultural centre of the region
 * — the largest city in the region and its main port
 * — at the edge of the Pearl River Delta to the west, with beautiful beaches especially around the Zhelang Peninsula
 * — the largest city in the region and its main port
 * — at the edge of the Pearl River Delta to the west, with beautiful beaches especially around the Zhelang Peninsula

Talk
This region has its own language, called Teochew or Chiuchow. Teochew is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin or Cantonese, but is partially mutually intelligible with Minnan, spoken across the border in South Fujian. The accent and pronunciation varies slightly between the three main Teochew-speaking cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang, but if you are fluent in Teochew, this should not pose too much of a challenge. The prestige dialect of Teochew is the dialect spoken in Chaozhou, though the Shantou dialect has the most speakers.

The dialect spoken in Shanwei is called the Haifeng dialect which, while closely related to Teochew, is distinct from it, and often described as an intermediate between Minnan and Teochew. There is also a Hakka-speaking minority.

The region is part of Guangdong province and many people speak Cantonese, albeit as a second or third language rather than natively. As with anywhere else in China, standard Mandarin has been the language of education, government and most media for decades, so nearly all educated people are fluent in Mandarin, though often with a thick accent. The most characteristic mispronunciations of Mandarin among native Teochew speakers are the merging of the initial "f" sound into "h", and of the final "n" sound into "ng".

English is not widely spoken, though staff at the higher end hotels will be able to speak English.

See

The region is known for its unique architectural style, which can be distinguished from that of the rest of China by its "curly grass roofs" (卷草脊). Traditional Chaoshan architecture is also known for its intricate wood carvings, and for the use of porcelain shards to make colourful, intricate mosaics.

Eat
Teochew cuisine is distinct from the Cantonese cuisine that is prevalent in much of the rest of Guangdong, and is more similar to South Fujian cuisine than to Cantonese cuisine. It is known in particular for its seafood and vegetarian dishes. Braised meats are commonly eaten in Teochew cuisines; a feature which it shares with South Fujian cuisine, but stands in contrast with the popularity of roasted meats in Cantonese cuisine. Other signature Teochew dishes include cold crab (冻蟹), pork jelly (猪脚冻) and fish balls (鱼丸).

If you're a vegetarian, beware of vegetable dishes in ordinary restaurants, as lard and fish sauce are commonly used in Teochew cuisine.

Drink
Chaoshan Gongfu Tea：A tea culture with a unique brewing method and ceremonial drinking practices, originating from the Chaoshan region in Guangdong Province, China. Typically, high-quality tea leaves from single ancient tea trees, such as Phoenix Dancong（凤凰单枞）, Shuixian（水仙）, Yashi Xiang（鸭屎香）, are used. These tea leaves are known for their fresh and fragrant characteristics. The process of brewing Gongfu tea is highly detailed. Firstly, an appropriate amount of tea leaves is placed in the teaware, and then near-boiling water is used for short, repeated infusions. The choice of teaware, whether porcelain or purple clay teapots, significantly influences the brewing process. Gongfu tea is often consumed using small teacups, and the entire ritual emphasizes attention to detail and appreciation of the tea's aroma and flavor.

title: Chaoshan


text:
Eastern Gulf Coast

The Eastern Gulf Coast has the popular beachside resorts closest to Bangkok in Eastern Thailand. However, it also has highly industrialised sections with pollution problems. Hwy 3 aka Sukhumvit Rd spans the 400 km of coastline from central Bangkok to Trat province.

Cities

 * — gateway to Ko Samet and some beaches of its own
 * — closest beach to Bangkok and an aquarium
 * - may be disregarded as a transport hub but has its own attractions not overrun by foreign tourists
 * - more known as a hub of industry but hosts local festivals
 * — beach town, separate, but administratively a part of Pattaya proper
 * — notorious den of sleaze trying to clean up its act
 * — surfing beaches along the coast
 * - home of a large naval reservation with less touristy beaches maintained by the military
 * — known for a spicy sauce and seafood

Other destinations

 * - small island near Pattaya
 * - small island near Pattaya
 * - the nearest thing to a paradise island around Bangkok
 * - the island that tourism (almost) forgot

Go next
Even more remote beaches and islands can be found in Trat.

If you are tired of beaches you can take a bus to Isaan, the landlocked northeastern region

title: Eastern Gulf Coast


text:
Eastern Highlands

The Eastern Highlands is a mountainous region in eastern Zimbabwe.

Other destinations

 * — Bunga Forest Botanical Reserve and nearby Bvumba Botanical Garden
 * — Osborne Dam Recreational Park
 * — Osborne Dam Recreational Park
 * — Osborne Dam Recreational Park
 * — Osborne Dam Recreational Park

title: Eastern Highlands


text:
Eastern Hills (Liaoning)

Eastern Hills is in Liaoning in China Including four cities, Dalian, Benxi, Fushun and Dandong.

Cities

 * , part of Dalian
 * , part of Dalian
 * , part of Dalian
 * , part of Dalian
 * , part of Dalian

Other destinations

 * — an underground river in a cavern filled with stalactites, stalagmites and stone flowers
 * — mountain temple fair in April attracts thousands
 * — literally meaning Thousand Mountains, this park consists of many jagged peaks as well as valleys with temples, monasteries and nunries of both Buddhists and Taoists
 * — literally meaning Thousand Mountains, this park consists of many jagged peaks as well as valleys with temples, monasteries and nunries of both Buddhists and Taoists
 * — literally meaning Thousand Mountains, this park consists of many jagged peaks as well as valleys with temples, monasteries and nunries of both Buddhists and Taoists

Get in
Dandong Airport

Go next
To the east, North Korea. But, you should not travel to there if you are not prepared to accept severe limitations on your movement and behavior, or the risk of arbitrary, indefinite detention.

title: Eastern Hills (Liaoning)


text:
Eastern Idaho

Eastern Idaho is part of the state that borders on Montana and Wyoming.

Cities

 * — well-known for its seed potato growing area
 * — a relatively small town in the Teton Valley that features great views and year-round outdoor activities
 * — a destination for adventure sports
 * — a city that is 500 feet (150 m) wide in most locations and 33 miles (53 km) long, it claims to have the longest main street in the world
 * — a base for exploring the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Tetons

Understand
This area is characterized by the seemingly interminable flat expanse of the Snake River Plain to the west and the gradual incipient rugged terrain of the Rockies to the east that will reach a crescendo in the Grand Tetons as you cross the Wyoming state line, with a pocket of forest in the northeast corner. The region was largely settled by Mormons who persevered against the harsh climate and rigors of untamed land to create their agricultural and religious communities.

title: Eastern Idaho


text:
Eastern India

From the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, Eastern India consists of five states: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Sikkim and West Bengal. Although economically less developed than other regions of India, Eastern India is culturally rich and perhaps the most welcoming to outsiders.

States
Bihar is often considered part of Eastern India because of its geography, but it has been included in the Plains to group it with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, to which it is culturally closer.

Cities
Here are nine of the most notable cities.

 * — major city and often called Steel City because of its steel plants

 * — a temple city and capital of Odisha

 * — "Silver City" and commercial capital of Odisha

 * — hill station and the tea capital of West Bengal

 * — famous for park and cricket stadium, an industrial city

 * (Calcutta) — also known as "City of Joy", the capital of West Bengal is one of the most populous cities in the world and the commercial hub of eastern India
 * — the capital of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha during the Nawab rule.
 * — one of the four sacred Hindu dhams, Lord Jagannath temple, famous sea beach
 * — capital of Jharkhand
 * — transport hub for travellers heading to Sikkim and Bhutan

Other destinations

 * , West Bengal — rolling grasslands and forest is rich with herbivores such as the Indian rhinoceros and elephants birds, reptiles and amphibians

 * , Jharkhand — similar to Betla National Park, the park has tigers, panthers and spotted deer. There are several towers from which tourists can view the beautiful and scenic surroundings as well as spot wildlife in their natural habitat

 * , Chhattisgarh — a dense area with several waterfalls and limestone caves. Several species of animals and a wide tribal population are present in this beautiful park. The diversity of landscapes makes ideal habitats for many species. Wildlife includes tigers, langurs, sloth bears, lizards, snakes, peacocks and parrots.

 * (Kangchendzonga National Park), Sikkim — there are many glaciers located in the park. Animals such as musk deer and snow leopards make their homes here

 * , Odisha — a zoo and botanical garden in the capital city (Bhubaneswar). It is home to white tigers and several endangered animals. In addition, one can visit several aquaria, a reptile house and the orchid house

 * , West Bengal — the largest mangrove forest in the world, where you might even spot a Bengal tiger

Understand
Eastern India features Kolkata, once the capital of British India, and the temple cities of Puri, Bhubaneswar and Konark. The region stretches from the mountains to the coast, resulting in fascinating variations in climate. It is also the mineral storehouse of India, having the country's largest and richest mines.

Talk
Eastern India includes multiple states, and the locally spoken languages vary from one state to another. However, Hindi is used and understood widely, unless one is speaking to someone from a remote Benagli/Odiya/Sikkimese village. Bengali is the primary language in West Bengal. Odia (Oriya) is spoken in Odisha. Nepali is the preferred language in Sikkim. People of Gangtok and Darjeeling do understand Bengali and Hindi because these places are tourism destinations. English usage is limited mostly to the urban areas. A dialect of Hindi called Bhojpuri is widely used in Jharkhand.

'Namaste' or 'Namaskar' is the usual way of starting a conversation with someone. 'Bhaiya' or 'Dada' (only in Bengal) is the common way of addressing a man and 'Didi' is used to address a woman. 'Dhanyavad' (meaning 'thank you') is used at the end of any conversation.

By plane
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is the gateway to Eastern India. There are airports in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Siliguri, Durgapur, Bhubaneswar etc. Air connectivity is fair in this part of the country.

By train
Howrah and Sealdah are two of the busiest railway stations in the world. Kolkata is very well connected to the rest of the country by the railways. Tatanagar (Jamshedpur), Rachi, New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), Malda, Asansol, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Jhadsuguda, and Sambalpur, are some of the most important railway stations of this region. Kolkata is also connected to Dhaka by rail and the train running between the two cities is called Maitree Express.

One might consider travelling by local trains which generally operate from Sealdah and Howrah stations. They serve as a quicker option of reaching suburban areas when compared to buses. However, one might come across huge number of passengers who are not always friendly in these trains. Generally, the trains are crowded while going towards Kolkata from 8AM to 11AM and from 4PM to 9PM while leaving Kolkata. That said, it sure is an experience to see the locals getting around and buy some snacks from the passing sellers.

By bus
All major cities and towns of Eastern India are well connected by roads and bus services are good. Each state has their own government-run bus services. Apart from this, there are private operators providing effective bus services all over the region. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Durgapur, Gangtok, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Raipur, Ranchi and Siliguri are some of the major bus hubs in this region.

From North-Eastern India
Bus travel to some points in North-Eastern India is faster via Bangladesh (visas will be required for entry into Bangladesh as well as for re-entry into India). If you're heading to points in North-Eastern India (Tripura for example) beyond Bangladesh, then there is a regular bus service between Dhaka and Agartala, the capital of the Indian state of Tripura. Two BRTC buses leave daily from Dhaka and connect with the Tripura Road Transport Corporation vehicles, running six days a week with a roundtrip fare of 600 Bangladeshi takas. There is only one halt at Ashuganj in Bangladesh during the journey. Call for schedule. Other entry points to North-Eastern India through Bangladesh are Hili, Chilahati / Haldibari and Banglaband border posts through Northern Bangladesh and Tamabil/Dawki border post for a route between Shillong (Meghalaya) and Sylhet in North-Eastern Bangladesh, and some others with lesser-known routes from north-eastern Indian regions. Although scheduled bus services to Shillong from Kolkata through Dhaka may not be available, you can get to those points via land routes going through Sylhet and then on to Tamabil–Dawki border outposts. Enquire at the Bus Service Counters for details.

See
Eastern India is diverse in terrain, from the Himalayan mountains of Sikkim and Darjeeling to the beaches of Digha and Puri and the tablelands of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The Chilika Lake in Odisha and the Sundarbans in West Bengal are some of the popular tourist spots in the region. Besides the natural beauty, Eastern India boasts several historical and cultural sites, including the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, the terracotta temples in Bishnupur and the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Eat
Kolkata is famous for its cuisine. The signature food item however would be roshogolla (rasgullah). Sandesh is a close second which is also a sweet. Kolkata is famous for its street food culture and one can find innumerable shops dotting the streets with various food items. Rolls (somewhat like tacos), momos, chowmein, etc. are commonly sold items. As Kolkata is home to India's largest ethnic Chinese community, Bengalis have a liking towards Chinese food but that is not authentic Chinese. They are Indianised version of Chinese foods and different from what you would find in China.

Bengali cuisine typically consists of rice, dal, fish curry, chicken curry, mutton curry, prawns, shukto, dorma, etc.

It is said that a trip to Kolkata remains incomplete if you do not try the Kolkata-style biryani. It is a combination of scented rice with piece(s) of chicken or mutton with potato and sometimes egg. Mishti doi (sweetened yogurt) is the favourite dessert in that region. One may also try other sweet items like pantua, chamcham, chhanabara, chhanaar-jilapi and jalebi. Fuchka is another very popular street food which should be tried. Jhal muri is spiced puffed rice. Shingara (also called samosa), gutki, dalpuri, kochuri, various kinds of chops are some of the best snacks of the region.

Cuisines of Odisha and Jharkhand are very similar to that of Bengal. However, Odia cuisine, especially from the sea-side region use salt water fish which is very nicely prepared and a must have. Lithi is one snack which is a must if you are in Jharkhand.

Drink
This is a major tea-growing area, so take some time to have tea from a roadside shop.

In Sikkim, look for the mildly intoxicating tongba, a millet-brew.

Stay safe
Food-borne illness is a major concern in this area. Go to eateries that are busy.

Go next

 * It is popular to take a trip to Nepal in order to enjoy the Himalayan mountains. Trains to the border are available from Kolkata.
 * Bangladesh — There are numerous bus options between Eastern India and Bangladesh. The most common way is the regular comfortable air-conditioned buses from Dhaka to Kolkata via the Benapole border post.

title: Eastern India


text:
Eastern Inner Mongolia

Eastern Inner Mongolia is in China.

Hinggan Prefecture

 * (阿尔山; Ā'ěrshān)
 * (乌兰浩特; Wūlánhàotè)

Hulunbuir Prefecture

 * (额尔古纳; É'ěrgǔnà)
 * (根河; Gēnhé)
 * (海拉尔)
 * (满洲里; Mǎnzhōulǐ)
 * (牙克石; Yákèshí)
 * (扎兰屯; Zhālántún)

Get in

 * Hulunbuir Hailar Airport
 * Manzhouli Airport
 * Ulanhot Airport

title: Eastern Inner Mongolia


text:
Eastern Iowa

Eastern Iowa is the central region along the Mississippi River in Iowa, home to several of the state's main population centers. The region is both somewhat characteristic of the rest of the state in terms of demographics but also unique in both its geography (bluffs and rolling hills) and its denser population. In many respects, it shares more in common with the nearby Illinois and Wisconsin regions than the rest of Iowa.

Cities

 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire
 * - Bettendorf, Davenport, Le Claire

Understand
Eastern Iowa is most heavily populated and developed area of Iowa outside of Des Moines. It includes the counties of Dubuque, Linn, Jones, Jackson, Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Scott, Muscatine, and Washington. Note that Iowa City is in Johnson County, not Iowa County.

Get in
Eastern Iowa is located along two of the country's major east-west thoroughfares (I-80 and US 30) and the Highway of the Saints, a designated route of shared highways between the Twin Cities and St. Louis. I-380 serves a secondary route connecting Iowa City to Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

The entire region is also serviced by airplane via the Eastern Iowa Airport, located just south of Cedar Rapids.

title: Eastern Iowa


text:
Eastern Kansas

Eastern Kansas is a region of Kansas.

Cities

 * - capital of Kansas
 * - one of the Midwest's most historic and charming towns
 * - home of the Maple Leaf Festival
 * - the Art of a City
 * - the First City in Kansas
 * - the Art of a City
 * - the First City in Kansas
 * - the First City in Kansas

title: Eastern Kansas


text:
Eastern Karadeniz

Splendid forest scenery, stunning river gorges, misty alpine meadows, lush tea plantations, magnificent hillside monasteries, colossal cathedral ruins, forgotten mountain hamlets, lonely fishermen villages, ancient harbour towns, and fairy-tale castles all abound in Eastern Karadeniz (Turkish: Doğu Karadeniz), home to a local culture as rich as its biodiversity. Forming the easternmost third of the Turkish Black Sea coast, the region may feel remote, but is in fact efficiently accessible.

Understand
A humid and verdant region as a consequence of the very high precipitation distributed evenly throughout the year, the biodiversity of Eastern Karadeniz reaches the levels of tropical rainforests in some areas, despite being located solidly in the temperate zone.

Eastern Karadeniz is the part of the region which Turks mostly think of when they hear Karadeniz, i.e. Black Sea. It includes the Artvin, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Rize, and Trabzon provinces.

People
Although all locals are colloquially, incorrectly, and somewhat derogatorily called "Laz" collectively by the Turks from elsewhere, Eastern Karadeniz, though overwhelmingly ethnically Turkish, has indeed a rich blend of ethnic make-up despite its relatively small size, like a microcosm of much larger multi-national former Ottoman Empire. In addition to the majority Turks, a number of towns east, west, and south of Trabzon are inhabited by Muslim Turks with a Pontic Greek background, though calling them "Greeks" outright may offend some of them (Muslim Greeks use the terms Rum or Romioi, meaning "Roman" or "Byzantine", to indicate their identity. Research has shown they are, however, very proud of their language and are happy to use it to converse with (Greek) tourists. Pontic Greek speakers live mostly in the districts of Çaykara, Sürmene, Tonya and İkizdere.

The Hemşin people, Muslimized brethren of Armenians, are present in the region, too, living in inland valleys south of Rize (however, most of the Hemshin people in Rize do not speak Armenian and do not regard themselves as Armenians). Around Hopa there is also a community of Hemşin who do speak Armenian and who have started teaching the Armenian alphabet to their children. Then there are the actual Laz people, distant cousins of Georgians, living in coastal towns east of Rize up to the Georgian border.

The inland far east of the region, i.e. Artvin and its surrounding area south of the Turkish-Georgian border, is inhabited by Georgians of Muslim background.

Most ethnic Turks in the central and eastern Karadeniz region belong to the Çepni boyu (clan), which is a distinct group from Anatolian Turks. The Çepni used to have their own states, which they established in the western Karadeniz region in former Pontic Greek cities after the battle of Manzikert, but eventually became part of the Ottoman Empire. Çepni culture thus has more influences by Pontic Greek, Caucasian and Persian culture, somewhat like that of the Azeri Turks.

Talk
As aforementioned, there are very few pockets of people speaking Pontic Greek (locally known as Romeika, and which is not completely mutually intelligible with modern Greek as Pontic variant retains more of medieval/Byzantine Greek characteristics), Hemşin dialect of Armenian, Laz which is distantly related to Georgian spoken in the neighbouring country, and Georgian proper, although Turkish is sufficient to communicate whomever you are speaking to in the region. Locals speak Turkish in an accent that non-local Turks usually find "funny" and like to chaff at—indeed Eastern Karadeniz Turkish is a major theme in Turkish jokes folklore, but the local Turks dislike this stereotyping and find it offensive. Foreign languages spoken by minorities in the area are German, Russian, Dutch and Italian by elderly men, and English by the youth (English language courses are extremely popular in the coastal cities of the Eastern Black Sea region).

Get in
Trabzon is the main hub of transportation into the region.
 * Trabzon is the site of the most important regional airport with numerous daily domestic connections, although few flights are available from airports other than those of Istanbul and Ankara. Or-gi, built on an artificial island roughly mid-way between Ordu and Giresun (and bearing the name of those two cities) and Rize-Artvin, also built on reclaimed land between its namesakes, are other regional airports. Batumi Airport in neighbouring Georgia is also listed by Turkish Airlines as a domestic destination for the towns on the Turkish side of the border—travellers ticketed for the Turkish border towns are then taken by a bus across the border back into Turkey, without going through the customs and passport control.
 * Trabzon, and Rize to a lesser degree, are served by frequent buses from rest of the country, especially big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, as well as from Batumi. However, as the region lies at the far northeastern corner of the country, distances are huge and bus ride from, for example, Istanbul can easily take a full day and night.
 * There are also some ferries from the Russian Black Sea Coast to Trabzon.

Get around

The highway D010, which has been upgraded to motorway standards, closely follows the coastline—sometimes too closely that it replaces the coastline as the motorway was built at cost of almost all of region's beaches, and forms the main backbone of transportation in the region from one end to another.

See
The hills and valleys of the eastern section of the region, around the valley of Çoruh, is dotted with ruins of Georgian churches and citadels, as the region was southern part of the medieval Georgian kingdom. Some of these churches and citadels are mostly intact while some others are almost totally ruined, and most lie on sites that are fairly off the beaten path.

Eat
The local people are known to be great lovers of local anchovy, hamsi, and experiment with incorporating it into just about anything, including delicious hamsi böreği, in which rice surrounded by anchovies all over is baked in the oven, and fairly unique hamsi tatlısı, which is a cake filled with anchovies, and topped by a concoction of fruits and sweet syrup.

Unlike the rest of the country, the main grain of local cuisine is corn, as wheat cannot stand to grow in the damp climate and rugged territory of the region. Corn flour is cooked into great breads, and muhlama, another local taste which basically consists of corn flour, butter, cheese, and salt.

As expected from an area so rich in wildflowers, the region is a big producer of honey. Macahel in the far east has Turkey's only naturally-occurring colony of Caucasian bees, and they produce their honey from areas almost completely out of human impact. Much honey is also produced in the highlands around Anzer south of Rize. Mad honey (deli bal) is produced out of toxic rhododendron flowers and the locals consider it a traditional medicine, but it's infamous for its hallucinogenic effects and overindulging may lead to serious medical complications.

Go next

 * Central Karadeniz to west is the extension of the Black Sea coast, yet with fewer mountains and more plains.
 * Eastern Anatolia to the south, just over the Pontic Mountains, is high territory with cold weather—even in summer—and is almost a world apart from the coast.
 * Travellers heading further east enters Georgia's Black Sea coast via Sarpi border gate.

title: Eastern Karadeniz


text:
Eastern Kenya

Eastern Kenya is a region of Kenya bordering Somalia and Ethiopia. It includes all of Northeastern Province and some of the Coast and Eastern Provinces. Eastern Kenya is home to Kenya's Somali minority ethnic population, and to many Somali refugees.

Cities

 * — gives an interesting insight into the Somali way of life without crossing into Somalia
 * — gateway to the Malka Mari National Park
 * — gateway to the Marsabit National Park
 * — the main border crossing with Ethiopia

Other destinations

 * — A protected area managed primarily for conservation purposes, with management intervention
 * — dry thorny bushland with an abundance of wildlife
 * — semi-arid bushland and scrubby grassland with riparian woodland that is habitat for the Somali giraffe, crocodile, hyena, agama lizards, antelopes, vultures, dik-dik, Nile crocodiles, zebra and genet

See and do
Large herds of elephants can be seen around the crater lakes in the Marsabit National Park.

Rahole National Reserve is one of the best places in Kenya to see hippos and crocodiles.

Arawale National Reserve is a critical refuge for a range of wildlife species including four globally threatened species: hirola, Grevy's zebra, East African wild dog and East African cheetah.

title: Eastern Kenya


text:
Eastern North Macedonia

Eastern North Macedonia is the region of North Macedonia lying to the east of the Povardarie region.

Cities

 * (Берово) – a little town in an area with charming villages and serene nature
 * (Богданци)
 * (Делчево, Delchevo)
 * (Дојран) – situated on Lake Dojran
 * (Гевгелија)
 * (Кочани, Kochani)
 * (Кратово)
 * (Крива Паланка)
 * (Куманово)
 * (Македонска Каменица)
 * (Пехчево, Pehchevo)
 * (Пробиштип, Probishtip)
 * (Радовиш, Radovish)
 * (Свети Николе)
 * (Штип, Shtip)
 * (Струмица) – largest city in the region
 * (Валандово)
 * (Виница)

Other destinations

 * (Босилово)
 * (Ново Село) – home to Macedonia's two best-known waterfalls, including its tallest

title: Eastern North Macedonia


text:
Eastern Madhya Pradesh

Eastern Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India.

Cities

 * —

 * — a pilgrimage destination known for a number of important Hindu temples and shrines

 * —

 * —

 * —

title: Eastern Madhya Pradesh


text:
Eastern Manitoba

Eastern Manitoba covers the part of southern Manitoba west of the Ontario border, and east of Winnipeg and Lake Winnipeg.

Cities

 * — home to a pioneer village open-air museum
 * — services for visitors to Whiteshell Provincial Park
 * — the Snowman Festival offers fun for families
 * — has a 54-m-long suspension bridge
 * — visit the Mennonite Heritage Village

Other destinations

 * — 12-m-high dunes and kilometres of warm sand beach
 * — a mixed (natural and cultural) UNESCO World Heritage Site

Understand
Major fur trading and travel routes, such as the LaVerendrye, Dawson and Crow Wing Trails, were the beginning of European settlement of the region.

The region has a very diverse ethnic cultural background (First Nations (Indigenous), Metis, Ukrainian, French, Mennonite, British, Dutch).

Talk
There are many francophone communities in the Eastern Manitoba, but English is widely spoken.

Get in
The nearest major airport is in Winnipeg:

 * Kasper Bus connects runs through the region along Highway 1 from Winnipeg en route to Thunder Bay.
 * By car, Highway 1 is the principal route from Winnipeg and Ontario. From the United States, follow Highway 75 from the North Dakota border, or Highway 12 from the Minnesota border.
 * By car, Highway 1 is the principal route from Winnipeg and Ontario. From the United States, follow Highway 75 from the North Dakota border, or Highway 12 from the Minnesota border.

Get around
By car, by bike, or on foot.

See
St. Pierre-Jolys hosts the Frog Follies in mid-July, a festival that features the Canadian National Frog Jumping Championships.

In Steinbach, the Mennonite Heritage Village, a 40-acre complex, spreads out from a street reminiscent of the Mennonite villages found in southern Manitoba during the late 1800s.

Beausejour hosts the Canadian Power Toboggan Championship Races in early March attracting racers from across Canada and the United States.

Do
Whiteshell Provincial Park offers year-round activities: hiking, mountain biking, camping, quiet beaches, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and fishing opportunities on more than 130 lakes.

Nopiming Provincial Park has over 700 lakes, many of them with fly-in or drive-in fishing lodges and out camps. The park's wildlife includes woodland caribou (in season).

St. Malo Provincial Park offers campgrounds, sandy beaches, a children's playgrounds and a large family picnic area.

Moose Lake Provincial Park, next to Lake of the Woods in the Northwest Angle Provincial Forest, offers campgrounds, picnic area and visitor accommodations.

Birds Hill Provincial Park, 24 km northeast of Winnipeg, has hills and ridges formed by ancient glaciers. It offers camping year-round, swimming, picnic sites, a riding stable, hiking trails, paved bicycle and roller blading trails, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails. The park also hosts the Winnipeg Folk Festival every July, one of North America's largest folk music events.

Eat
Eastern Manitoba has a large francophone population. Tourtière, a meat pie originating from Quebec, is made from ground pork, or combinations of ground pork, ground veal, and ground beef, and seasoned with savory, nutmeg, clove, and/or cinnamon. Poutine is another French-Canadian dish found in Manitoba. Poutine is a dish made with French fries topped with gravy and cheese curds.

Go next

 * Winnipeg, the province's capital and largest city.
 * Angle Inlet, Minnesota, the only part of the 48 contiguous United States which is north of the 49th parallel, has easiest land access through highway MB-525 East in Eastern Manitoba.

title: Eastern Manitoba


text:
Eastern Marmara

Eastern Marmara (Turkish: Doğu Marmara) is the portion of Marmara Region bounded by Istanbul to the northwest, the Western Black Sea Region to the east, Western/Central Anatolia to the south, and the Southern Marmara Region to the west. It combines urban sprawl with fascinating medieval buildings and lush forested mountains. Eastern Marmara is simply a geographical term, but roughly corresponds to the administrative provinces of Kocaeli, Sakarya and Bilecik.

Cities

 * is an industrial city with a well-preserved Ottoman mosque complex.
 * is an industrial city with a paper museum and a film set.
 * is a big city, where the earthquake museum documents the tragedy of 1999.
 * is a pleasant lakeside town surrounded by lush forests.
 * is a ferry port and beach resort, with thermal springs.
 * in antiquity was Nicaea, site of the early Christian Ecumenical Councils.
 * has an old town with many traditional Ottoman buildings.
 * is a well-preserved old town in the forests, with thermal springs.
 * , Turkey's furniture capital, has geothermal hot springs at Oylat.
 * has an old town of somewhat over-renovated Ottoman houses.
 * is a small town settled by the yurt-dwelling grandfathers of the Ottoman dynasty.

Other destinations

 * means "snowy hill" and it's a ski resort east of İzmit
 * is a spa resort in the hills south of İnegöl, best known for its cave.

Understand
Africa collided with Eurasia 70 million years ago and is still ploughing into it. This created mountains and volcanoes along the spine of what became Turkey - the volcanoes have ceased spewing (cross fingers) but there are continual major earthquakes along the North Anatolian fault line stretching the width of the country. The focus of the quakes appears to be migrating west: the latest bad one, in İzmit in 1999, was of magnitude 7.6 and took 18,000 lives. It's feared the next could devastate Istanbul. The Gaziantep earthquake of 2023 was along the adjoining Eastern Anatolia fault line and hasn't lessened or heightened this risk. Eastern Marmara is therefore mountainous. The mountains draw clouds and rain, so their flanks are lushly forested. Early settlers had limited level ground for agriculture, compared to the Anatolian plateau further east, but had ample water, grazing, timber and building stone. They occupied redoubts just above the flood-prone river valleys, which every merchant traveller, pilgrim or army had to traverse. The earliest nation-state that can be identified hereabouts was Bithynia, with its capital at Nicomedia, present-day İzmit. It was independent from the 4th century BC until coming under Roman rule from 74 BC. This lasted into the 11th century within the eastern empire of Byzantium / Constantinople. Then the territory fell to a series of new dynasties, with lasting rule by the Ottomans from the 14th century. Söğüt was the initial powerbase, then Bursa further west, and later Ottoman rulers embellished these towns to underscore their own political legitimacy.

The sword-like Gulf of İzmit floods the fault line and creates a shipping route. In modern times the sea and lake coasts became leisure resorts, but drawing only domestic tourism - their attractions being a short travel time from Istanbul or Ankara, less of a frantic party scene to annoy the conservative-minded, and a fraction of the price of the raucous Aegean or Med. Other ports on the Gulf are industrial, and there's a navy base at Gölcük.

Local industries were traditionally agriculture (olives, fruit, live-stock, dairy), textiles, ceramics and timber - this finds multiple uses but especially furniture-making. In the 20th century the northwest corner became an overspill area for Istanbul, with housing and industry such as electronics and automobiles basing there to avoid city prices and congestion. There's now a continuous urban strip for 100 km east of the Bosphorus, yet even busy, relentlessly modern Gebze has at its core a 16th century religious complex. Earthquakes and invasions have smashed so many old structures across this region, with only selected palaces and mosques being rebuilt to the original plan, and Gebze's were rebuilt in 2015.

Get in
By plane visitors from other countries arrive at one of the two Istanbul airports, Europe-side or  Asia-side - both are connected to the Metro. Yenişehir Airport has flights from cities in the far east of Turkey, but that airport (nominally serving Bursa) has poor onward transport.

By train YHT fast trains from Istanbul cross this region on the way to Eskişehir, Ankara and Konya. They stop at Gebze, Izmit, Arifiye (for Adapazarı), Bilecik (for Osmaneli), Bozüyük then Eskişehir. You can't use them for the short hop between Istanbul and Gebze, use the Marmaray suburban train.

By bus most towns have frequent direct buses from Istanbul, which may be on their way to Ankara. The main bus lines are Metroturizm and Flixbus (which has taken over Kamil Koç) and their booking sites are easy to navigate. Bursa and Eskişehir are secondary hubs for their nearby small towns - these local buses may not be timetabled online.

By road O-7 toll motorway heads east from Istanbul. Near Gebze is a junction: O-5 the branch south sweeps over the Gulf of Izmit towards Bursa and eventually Izmir - this is the quickest route for Iznik and İnegöl. Continue east for other cities: the road becomes E80, them E89 into Ankara.

By boat fast ferries from Istanbul sail to Yalova. A car ferry also plies between Topçular near Yalova and Eskihisar near Gebze, for those who resent the toll on the motorway bridge.

Get around
You really need your own wheels to traverse this region. The main highways are to a good standard but minor roads hairpin over the hills, with poor signage and worse oncoming drivers around the next blind bend.

Trains rush through the region but are seldom convenient for point-to-point journeys within it.

Buses radiate from the major cities, so if your destination is along such a route you're in luck. This includes routes from Ankara and Eskişehir towards Bursa and Izmir. Buses generally stop at edge-of-town stations, so you need a dolmuş or taxi to reach town centre. Local buses and dolmuşes connect smaller towns and villages but are designed for day-to-day business not tourism, and getting reliable information about departures can be your biggest headache.

See

 * Külliyesi means a religious complex, centred on a mosque and also containing a medrese (seminary), imaret (hospice), hamam (baths) and other buildings. These were erected from the 13th century and refurbished in later times while secular buildings around were allowed to fall derelict. Sometimes rival patrons competed to show off their piety and charity. Many remain only as mosques, but there are more complete complexes in Gebze, Inegöl and Iznik.
 * Ottoman houses as understood by westerners generally means wooden mansions with jutting upper storeys and verandas, typical of the 19th century, and white-washed stone houses. The Ottoman tradition of course goes back much further, but older secular buildings have mostly been lost to fire, earthquake or neglect. Isolated examples are found everywhere, sometimes made over into museums, especially if Atatürk ever stayed there. More extensive neighbourhoods in that style are in Osmaneli, Bilecik, Taraklı and İzmit.
 * Decorative tiles adorn many mosques and palaces. The craft was re-launched in the 17th century and is best seen in İznik, though the very finest pieces have gone far away.
 * Bridges were built in early Ottoman times to carry highways across rivers that were seldom deep, but wide and dangerous in spate. There are good examples at Dilovası near Gebze, and south of Adapazarı.
 * Weird attractions include Darıca Hobbit Village in Gebze and Seka Park Film Set in İzmit.

Do

 * Hiking: see Iznik where several long-distance trails converge. These include Evliya Çelebi Way a 20-day route, Tolerance Way over 5 days, and Sufi Trail over 40 days. The problem is that they are poorly waymarked or maintained, and non-continuous with some sections on walker-hostile highways. Frankly they feel like tokens of good intent rather than practical trails.
 * Rock climbing and canyoning: best are Ballıkayalar Valley east of Gebze and the marble Harmankaya Canyon in Bilecik Province.
 * Hot springs gush out of the mountain sides, and have supported spa resorts since antiquity. There are well-developed spas at Oylat, Taraklı and Yalova.
 * Winter sports: the only ski resort is on aptly-named Kartepe ("snow hill") east of İzmit. The mountain of Uludağ rises west of İnegöl but its ski area is accessed from Bursa.
 * Football: there are no soccer teams in this region in Süper Lig, Turkey's top tier. Pro teams in lower tiers are based in Adapazarı, İnegöl and İzmit.

Eat

 * Meat, meat, meat! This region hasn't seen any influx of foreign cuisines, so you're destined to eat a lot of trad Turkish fare such as kebabs and köfte, meatballs. Several towns have local variants, for instance İnegöl makes a big thing of its meatballs, which are lightly spiced in the Balkan style. This won't help much if meatballs comprised your last dozen meals, or if you're a vegetarian hoping for something more than another unimaginative salad.
 * Fish from the sea and from the trout farms of Lake Sapanca are also popular.
 * Desserts are gloochy and need to be washed down with strong Turkish coffee. For instance İzmit specialises in pişmaniye, somewhat like cotton candy.
 * Lots of fruit is grown in this region, especially apples, pears, quince and cornels (cherries) in the south, and hazelnuts and kiwifruit in the north.

Drink
This region is conservative by west Turkish standards. Lots of cafes and restaurants serve beer, but there isn't a pub scene, and little wine is produced here.

Stay safe
Traffic, traffic, traffic should always be your main concern, both in town and on the country roads.

Go next

 * Istanbul — heading west along the Gulf of İzmit, Istanbul's eastern suburbs are just around the corner.
 * Bursa was the first city seized by the Ottomans, and is full of their heritage.
 * Southern Marmara — further onwards from Bursa, the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara is lined by a series of historic towns and beach resorts.
 * Istanbul to Izmir — one leg of this long-distance itinerary briefly crosses this region on its course between Turkey's two major cities.
 * Western Karadeniz — in a way, this is the natural extension of Eastern Marmara, with better preserved old towns, lusher forests, steeper mountains dotted by an almost uncountable number of extremely scenic lakes.
 * Central Anatolia — in the southeast where the mountains give way for the endless steppelands of the Anatolian plateau, Eskişehir is a pleasant riverside city, with a colourful old town. In the south, across the Domaniç Mountains, Kütahya is just as pleasant, with a more traditional atmosphere.

title: Eastern Marmara


text:
Eastern Mongolia

Eastern Mongolia is a region in Mongolia.

Cities

 * is the capital of Suhbaatar.
 * is the capital of Dornod Aimag.
 * is the capital of Khentii Aimag and near the birthplace of Genghis Khan.

Other destinations

 * The northeasternmost corner of Mongolia, known as Dauria, has been listed as a natural world heritage site by UNESCO together with the landscape on the Russian side of the border known as the Daursky Nature Reserve.

Get in
There are now paved roads all the way to Baruun Urt and Choibalson. There are still plenty of options for buses to the provincial capitals and daily flights to Choibalsan from UB and Hailar, Inner Mongolia. Airports in Ondorkhaan and Baruun-Urt no longer have scheduled flights to UB. There is a rail line from Choibalsan to Russia, but it has no passenger service.

Get around
First you need to find a reliable driver and negotiate a price. Getting to a province in Mongolia from the capital is much easier than going between provinces. The best strategy is starting as far from UB as you wish to go, say Choibalsan, and working your way back to Ulaanbaatar. There are shared jeeps between provincial capitals and from the cities to the countryside.

See
The main attraction of Sukhbaatar Aimag is the steppe, which is flatter and truer steppe in this part of the country. Also be sure to look out for white tailed gazelle on your journey.

Do
Drive around, go camping, sleep in a ger.

Go to Dariganga Soum and visit Altan Owoo (a sacred hill). Women can only go the foot of the hill. Please be respectful.

title: Eastern Mongolia


text:
Eastern Myanmar

Eastern Myanmar is a region in Myanmar comprising Shan and Kayah states.

Shan State covers a quarter of Myanmar. The Tai (Shan) people constitute the majority among several ethnic groups that inhabit the area. Shan is largely rural, and is home to several armed ethnic armies. Vast areas of the state, especially those east of the Salween River, remain outside the central government's control. In some areas, the local ethnic army has signed peace agreements with the central government, and some of those areas are now open to tourists, though a guide may be required. Kayah State is a mountainous area inhabited primarily by the Karenni ethnic group, also known as Red Karen or Kayah, a Sino-Tibetan people.

As in many other states in Myanmar that have ethnic minority populations, there are separatist insurgencies and alleged human rights abuses by the Myanmar military junta and the armed forces.

Cities

 * - gateway to Inle Lake
 * - town on the old Burma Road from Mandalay to Lashio
 * (Cheingtung, Chiang Tung, Kengtong, Kyaingtong)
 * - the capital of Kayah State
 * - casino boomtown gone bust
 * - border crossing to Ruili in Yunnan, China
 * - border crossing to Mae Sai in Chiang Rai, Thailand
 * - the capital of Shan State
 * - the capital of Shan State

Understand
The Shan people in Myanmar are the same as the Dai people in China's Yunnan Province. The Shan people are one of the largest minority groups in Myanmar. They have been fighting an on-and-off war with the central Burmese government for several decades. The central Burmese government has signed peace agreements with some factional groups, such as the Wa State, which allows these groups to have a high degree of autonomy, including maintaining separate armed forces. The political situation, however, remains relatively unstable. Many military checkpoints exist on few major roads that cross the mountainous Shan State. Each checkpoint marks the border between a territory (usually a Special District or a city) controlled by a different army. In July 2005, the central government official responsible for negotiating these peace agreements was imprisoned for corruption, possibly signalling a renewed attempt by the central government to crack down on the rebel Shan armies.

The southern portion of this region is Kayah state. The Karenni people are the majority within this province similarly to Kayin state to its south and west. Refugees from this area also inhabit Mae Hong Son province in Thailand. Similarly to Shan state and other Burmese frontier states, various Karenni groups, seeking independence for their homeland, have been in conflict with the central Burmese government. Since 2012, there has been ceasefire agreements between armed Karenni groups in the region and the central government.

The Mekong River marks the border between the Shan State and Laos. This border region is generally known as the Golden Triangle, though the actual Golden Triangle point is where Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet on the Mekong River. The Golden Triangle region used to be one of the largest opium producing areas in the world. Opium production today is minimal.

Talk
This area is linguistically very rich, with many languages spoken by the various ethnic groups. The Shan language is a Kra-Dai language related to Thai, though not mutually intelligible. Burmese serves as the lingua franca within the government-controlled areas, though it may not be spoken at all in some separatist-controlled regions.

In the Wa State, Mandarin is widely spoken as a second language, in addition to the native Wa language, and hardly anyone speaks Burmese.

By plane
Heho Airport

Loikaw Airport - Loikaw airport is the only commercial airport in Kayah state and connects the state with Yangon. Myanmar National Airlines and Air KBZ operate a daily flight to this airport from Yangon.

By bus
Buses link cities in this region to each other and to the major Burmese centres of Yangon and Mandalay.

By car
This region is connected by highways to Central Myanmar and to Thailand through the Tachileik/Mae Sai border.

By train
The major cities in this region are connected by local trains off the Yangon-Mandalay mainline. The connection with the mainline to this region is at Thazi. Trains are, in general, slower than road travel in this region due to the age of the tracks.

By road
Car is the easiest way to travel in this region. Roads other than the highways in the rural parts of this region can be quite poor with many existing as unpaved dirt roads. During the monsoon season, these dirt roads wash out and become very difficult to drive. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended for the remote and rural roads in this area. Motorbiking is also possible, but ensure adequate knowledge of conditions. There are military checkpoints along the highways and in remote regions, you may encounter checkpoints by ethnic organizations controlling those areas. The maps of this area are incomplete and mostly outline major highways.

Tourists who wish to visit the Pa-O Self Administered Zone of Shan State are required to be accompanied by a local Pa-O guide, who can be hired in Taunggyi. Your hotel or tour company can usually arrange this for you.

By rail
Train travel between the major cities (e.g. Taungyyi, Loikaw) is possible on the local train line, albeit slow. However, smaller towns and furthest reaches of this region will not be connected by the sparse rail network in this region.

See
The daily market in the regional administrative city of Kengtung is a sprawling complex with a wide variety of goods, including tourist souvenirs, although they do not get many tourists. Instead the market is full of local residents and hill tribe people dressed in their colourful traditional clothing, and Buddhist monks and nuns with their begging bowls. A visit can easily consume half a day of people watching, shopping and bargaining. This market is much more interesting than the border market in Tachileik, where hawkers harass tourists to buy soft porn and cigarettes.

A subgroup of the local Kayan people, the Padaung, are famous for the neck coils worn by some women. These so-called "giraffe women" have become a popular, if arguably exploitative, tourist attraction in the Shan State, bringing in much-needed revenue.

Eat
Try the traditional foods of this area which include:

 * Shan noodles - noodles in a sauce formed with a variety of different spices, chilies, and peanuts
 * Hin Htote - rice flour and meat steamed in a banana leaf
 * Kayah sausage - a pork sausage

Common dishes in this region also include Burmese staples like Mohinga (fish soup), Burmese curries, and a variety of stir fries influenced by Chinese cuisine.

Drink
Local liquors in the region are of the moonshine variety made from fermented palm sugar or grains. You may be able to see people selling their homemade liquor in what appears to be gasoline containers in smaller towns. If you're adventurous, ask for a taste before buying. Otherwise, Burmese beer (e.g. Myanmar, Dagon) is the drink of choice.

Stay safe
The area is generally safe for foreigners, but traveling to remote areas in this region without a local guide may bring up the attention of a variety of groups. Exploring off the beaten path without a guide is not recommended as areas can be heavily mined with landmines due to the conflict between the area's minority groups and the central Burmese government.

Roads in this area can be poor and mostly are not lit, so caution is recommended if walking or traveling by motor vehicle.

Malaria prophylaxis in this region is highly recommended. The Thai-Burmese border is endemic for drug-resistant malaria. Make sure your malaria prophylaxis is suitable to protect against this.

title: Eastern Myanmar


text:
Eastern Nebraska

Eastern Nebraska is the most populated region in Nebraska, home to over three-quarters of the state's population. The metropolitan areas of Omaha and Lincoln alone are home to half of the state's total population.

The region can be roughly defined as anything east of NE-14, which sits midway between US Highway 281 and US Highway 81.

Cities

 * - the largest city in the state
 * - the state capital
 * - the state capital
 * - the state capital
 * - the state capital
 * - the state capital

Other destinations

 * - a large fossil site located in near the town of Royal in Antelope County.
 * - of forest and wetlands on the banks of the Missouri river near Bellevue.
 * - state park near Ashland with plenty of outdoor activities and hiking trails.
 * - of wilderness, historical buildings, and a cave featuring prehistoric petroglyphs.
 * - of wilderness, historical buildings, and a cave featuring prehistoric petroglyphs.

Understand
Rolling hills, dense forests, and countless rivers and streams make up the eastern third of the state. Given Nebraska's reputation for being flat and treeless, this can surprise visitors.

See
Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is a nationally renowned zoo in Omaha. It is Nebraska's number one paid attraction.

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum near Ashland is dedicated to the advancement in aircraft and spacecraft during the Cold War.

The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln is home to Nebraska's unicameral state legislature.

title: Eastern Nebraska


text:
Eastern Netherlands

The Eastern Netherlands is a largely rural and natural part of the Netherlands, dotted with historic cities and charming villages and popular for its scenic landscapes. Low Saxon is also spoken here, next to Dutch. The forests of the Veluwe, which include one of the oldest national parks in the country, are a major domestic tourism destination.

Cities

 * — a very green city with lots of monuments and parks, as well as the home to Het Loo Palace
 * — an important historic trade city
 * — one of the "Hanzesteden", it dates from the 9th century
 * — base for cycling trips to the Hoge Veluwe National Park
 * — largest city of Overijssel and the Twente region and large student population
 * — oldest city of the country, known for its 4-days march which attracts walkers from all over the world, left-wing politics and large student population
 * — another old and historic town, and one of the largest fruit production centres of the country
 * — first town to get city rights in medieval times
 * — historic Hanzestad city and one of only 2 Dutch cities home to a 3 Michelin-star awarded restaurant

Other destinations

 * — the country's largest national park with heathlands, sand dunes, and woodlands
 * - the country's oldest national park
 * — one of Europe's important swamps home to herons and otters

Understand
The Eastern Netherlands are not very well known to most foreign visitors. Domestic tourism has been an important part of the regional economy for some time however, and visitors from neighbouring Germany have also discovered the merits of this area in terms of nature, culture and relaxation. Outside of the city areas, the region has quite a rural feel and much of its charm comes from the seemingly slow pace of life, the extensive biking and hiking opportunities and pretty, forest-rich landscapes. Underneath the quiet countryside look however, lies a region keen on innovation and knowledge. Both Nijmegen and Enschede have well-known universities and regional authorities have joined forces to stimulate development and entrepreneurship.

For centuries, this region has played a vital role in Dutch trade towards the east. The modern business areas and transport companies that come with that function today are of course of little interest to a traveller, but the cultural wealth this trade brought to the region's Hanseatic League cities has left it with a number of beautiful historic town centres.

By plane
There aren't any mid-sized or large airports in the Eastern Netherlands. The most convenient choice is probably Schiphol Airport  near Amsterdam, as it has easy train connections to a number of cities in this region, including Apeldoorn (direct, 70min), Arnhem (80min), Ede-Wageningen (65min), Enschede or Zwolle (direct, 60min).

Airport Weeze is just across the border in Germany. It is relatively close to Nijmegen and can thus also be used as an entry point into the region. There's a regular bus service from Airport Weeze to Nijmegen (as well as to some other Dutch cities), but you have to make a reservation in advance. There are plans for a new civil airport in Enschede, but these are still in the experimental phase.

By train
All major cities are connected by train, and this is the most convenient way to get in via public transport. There are a plethora of train services running to all other provinces of the country. The ICE International connects Arnhem with Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany. Apeldoorn and Deventer have an intercity connection with Bad Bentheim, Osnabrück, Hanover and Berlin.

By car
The Eastern region has good road connections with other parts of the Netherlands. The A1 comes from Amsterdam and Amersfoort and connect those cities with Apeldoorn, Deventer and Hengelo in the Eastern region. The A28 from Utrecht and Amersfoort crosses through the Veluwe, Zwolle and the Kop van Overijssel. The A12 connects Utrecht with Arnhem, and the A15 connects Rotterdam with Arnhem (and on its way crosses through the Rivierenland).

If you're coming from Germany, motorway 30 connects Osnabrück and Hanover with the region. Motorway 3 comes in from the Ruhr and leads to Arnhem.

By train
The train is the best way to get around for foreign visitors. The Nederlandse Spoorwegen serves every large town and you can use the website to plan your journey ahead of time. Some railway lines, particularly in the south and east of the region covering smaller towns, are served by Syntus.

By bus
The bus is mostly used as a way of transport within towns or between towns in the same area. Bus travel is time-consuming, confusing and slow, but may be required for some outlying regions (avoid it if there's rail transport available). There's a plethora of bus companies available that all serve a different set of regions and provinces. You can plan your journey at 9292.nl.

By car
Driving here is easier than in the Western region with fewer traffic jams and fewer speed limits, and making your way around by car is an excellent option. Car rental agencies can be found in all the major cities in the region, as well as at the airport. The A1 crosses right through the region with Barneveld, Apeldoorn, Deventer, Hengelo, and taking the A35 into account, also Enschede. The A12 connects Arnhem and Ede. The Hoge Veluwe National Park can be reached by both the A1 and the A35.

By bicycle
The region is perfect for cycling, and that's a great way to get immersed in the landscape. Especially cycling to and through the Hoge Veluwe National Park is a popular and worthwhile experience. Local tourist offices all have maps of the available bicycle paths, but even without, directions for biking routes between towns are usually indicated well along the way.

See
The largest tourist attraction is Hoge Veluwe National Park. It is famous for its diversity in natural landscapes. It's rich with forests, but there large heaths, streams and lakes. Striking are its patches of desert with sand drifts that are among the largest in Europe. To top that, it also has one of the most important cultural attractions of the region with the Kröller-Müller Museum, an art museum with an extensive collection of Van Gogh paintings and a garden with sculptures.

Many cities in the Eastern region were members of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns that dominated trade along the coast of the Baltic Sea. These cities are called Hanseatic cities, and because of their rich trading history, they have beautiful historic town centers. The six most important Hanseatic cities are Deventer, Doesburg, Hasselt, Hattem, Kampen, Zutphen and Zwolle. All are major tourist attractions.

Nijmegen lays claim to the title of oldest city of the Netherlands, dating back to Roman times. It breathes history and has a lot of monuments, parks and museums. Arnhem has a strong rivalry with Nijmegen, and also has a lot to offer visitors. Attractions there include Burgers' Zoo, the Netherlands Open Air Museum and museums about World War II history, as this is where Operation Market Garden took place.

Do
The extensive and flat rural areas, the orchards of the Betuwe and the protected natural parks make the Eastern Netherlands an excellent place for outdoor activities. Hiking and biking are very popular and with numerous available trails, road signs and bike lanes, it's easy too. All the larger cities have tourist information offices to help you plan a trip. Most large train stations allow for bike rental, as do many hotels.

The annual height of the national hiking sport is the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse in Nijmegen, for which many foreign enthusiast find their way here. It's not the only major event in the region, though. There's the Dickens Festival, the weekend before Christmas in Deventer. For a free musical treat, head to the Bevrijdingsfestival in Zwolle, one of the largest Dutch liberation festivals on May 5th. An even larger free pop festival is Appelpop, an annual September festival in Tiel. When you're visiting the area in May, you'll find the orchards in the Betuwe area in bloom, and in Autumn, several towns in the region (Tiel again being a major one) organize a fruit corso parade, a colourful parade showcasing the region's produce.

Eat
The Eastern Netherlands are a region with a strong rural and agricultural tradition. Apart from some of the wealthy Hansaeic cities, hard work and limited wealth were common and many of the traditional dishes were based on widely available and nutritious produce like potatoes and beans. Different ways to serve porridge were also popular. Although many of these dishes are known, and some are still prepared occasionally in family homes, few are found on restaurant menus. Among the ones you might encounter is Humkessoep, a bean and potato soup particularly popular in the Twente area and Oldenzaal but eaten in other parts of the region too, usually served with pieces of sausage and bacon. Local sweet treats include Deventer koek, a cake that gave the city of Deventer its nickname koekstad, or cakecity.

Drink
With plenty of domestic and German tourist visiting the region for a relaxed vacation of hiking or biking, small cafés can be found in virtually every village. If you're looking for something more energetic, in the sense of nightlife, you're best off in the student cities of Nijmegen and Enschede. There are a few traditional local liquors, but you'll be hard pressed to find them. One is allemansgading, or every-man's-choice, a combination of brandy, lemon, saffron and cardamom.

Go next
The Eastern Netherlands can function as a springboard to Germany. Hop on the international train to Berlin, and don't forget to spend a day or two in the beautiful village of Quedlinburg on the way over. If you're looking to stay in the Netherlands, this fairly central position will allow for a trip to any part of the country in just about 2 hours or so. Nearby destinations include historic Amersfoort and Utrecht (city), charming 's Hertogenbosch or bustling, modern Eindhoven'.

title: Eastern Netherlands


text:
Eastern Newfoundland

Eastern Newfoundland is the region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador that includes the Avalon Peninsula, which extends farther east than any part of North America except Greenland, and the Bonavista Peninsula, which was the site of the arrival of the first European colonists to North America, in 1497.

Avalon Peninsula

 * — the capital, largest city in the province, and the oldest city in North America
 * — a collection of nine communities that make up a suburb of St. John's
 * — a suburb of St. John's that hosts over 60 km of walking trails
 * — it claims to be "the nicest place in the world"
 * — an historic town overlooking Conception Bay
 * — after you take a picture of the town sign, stay and enjoy the scenery
 * — an unusual number of shipwrecks have accumulated in the waters off its coast over the last five centuries
 * — a group of six fishing villages on the west side of the Avalon Peninsula

Bonavista Peninsula

 * — Bonavista's lighthouse is one of Newfoundland's most photographed sites
 * — a quaint town that is a service centre for the Bonavista Peninsula

Other destinations

 * – a large rural area on the southern portion of the Avalon Peninsula includes a string of tiny seaside villages, a listed archaeological site at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, the Avalon Wilderness Reserve and the first point of contact for trans-Atlantic ships, Cape Race.
 * — a place where sheltered Atlantic fjords stretch inland to touch the boreal landscape
 * — a popular vacation destination with excellent beaches, fishing villages and an active arts community
 * , a famed for its Ediacaran fossils.

Understand
The first overseas outpost of England was established at St John's in August 1583. Eastern Newfoundland drew Europeans to the historic Avalon Peninsula chasing the seemingly infinite North Atlantic cod schools over the following centuries, until the party came to an end in 1992 and the cod fishery was closed. Much of the region has suffered economically since then, but is recovering as other industries expand, including tourism.

Get in

 * Marine Atlantic runs a ferry from North Sydney, Cape Breton to Argentia, near Placentia; crossing time is about 14 hours. Another option is to cross by ferry to Port-aux-Basques (about six hours) and take the Trans-Canada Highway across all of Newfoundland island.
 * St. John's has an international airport.
 * There is intercity bus service on the Trans-Canada Highway. There is no train; the rails were removed from the Rock in the 1980s.

Get around
DRL Coachlines Ltd and Newhook's Transportation run scheduled passenger coach services from St. John's along the Trans-Canada Highway, and there are commuter services in the St. John's region, but otherwise, you will need your own car, or be willing to hitchhike. Newfoundlanders are a friendly lot, so hitchhiking is generally good, but there are always risks associated with it.

See
Signal Hill, overlooking the harbour in St. John's, was the site of Marconi's early experimentation with trans-Atlantic communication. Cape Spear, just south of St. John's, is the easternmost point in Canada. There's a national historic site with a lighthouse. St. John's also has a small old town with colourful wooden buildings and narrow streets on a steep hillside leading down to Water Street, the local commercial district. Quidi Vidi looks like a charming, small seaside village on a small lake... but it's almost in the heart of St. John's, the capital and largest city of Newfoundland.

In Placentia, Castle Hill National Historic Site preserves what's left of the various fortifications in the area, many of them dating back to the era of French rule. The adjacent town of Argentia was demolished during World War II to clear way for a military base which is now largely abandoned.

There are two museums covering the Marconi radiotelegraph stations which once dotted the coastline; the Admiralty House Museum in Mount Pearl and the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre on Cape Race.

Bonavista is best known for its historic buildings, its lighthouse is a distinctive landmark. Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, near Cape Race and Portugal Cove South, is a UNESCO world heritage listed wilderness area and archeological fossil site. The area is named "Mistaken Point" as ships mistakenly turning here instead of at Cape Race were at risk of being run aground.

Do
Whale watching aboard the "Heritage Explorer", a tour boat with local guide in Dildo; view icebergs, dolphins, nesting bald eagles, seabirds and historic Dildo Island.

In St. John's, it's about a 45-minute walk up to Signal Hill for a glorious view, and then 30 minutes further along a beautiful seaside trail to the fishing village of Quidi Vidi, known for its brewery.

George Street in St. John's is legendary as a place to go drinking.

title: Eastern Newfoundland


text:
Eastern Ontario

Eastern Ontario is a corner of Ontario sandwiched between New York State to the south and Quebec to the north.

A true blending of the character and culture of its neighbours and with its own distinct influences, this is region takes a little from a lot of different places and produces something distinct. Reconciling opposites it the theme here, as the region is both English- and French-speaking, mostly rural both also home to Canada's capital city, both agricultural and home to a giant wilderness park, and found in the middle of the continent but sitting on one of the world's greatest shipping routes.

Cities

 * — the largest city of the region, it has all the architecture and museums you would expect in a national capital
 * — part of Ontario's Celtic heartland, a place where Gaelic can still be heard
 * — it has some fine heritage buildings
 * — the "city of the Thousand Islands"
 * — for those coming from Montreal, this is a stop along the way to Toronto
 * — one of the most historic cities in Canada with many churches, old buildings, picturesque neighbourhoods, and 19th-century fortifications
 * — a small city that can be a base for exploring Algonquin Provincial Park
 * — has two War of 1812 national historic sites to visit
 * — home of the National Air Force Museum of Canada

Other destinations

 * — large forested provincial park with camping, activities; borders Central and Northern Ontario
 * — scenic border region split between Eastern Ontario and northern New York

Understand
Despite being hundreds of kilometres from the sea, the geography and much of the history of the region is dominated by water. Indigenous peoples (Algonquin, Haudenosaunee and Wyandot) used the rivers as trade networks, which the French voyageurs adopted starting in the 1600s for trading manufactured goods to the natives for furs (European settlement in Eastern Ontario didn't first start until the mid-1700s, when the settlement of L'Orignal in what is now Prescott-Russell was founded). After the American Revolution, the St. Lawrence became a border, but was also where the United Empire Loyalists (groups of Americans who stayed loyal to Britain after the American Revolution) settled. Kingston owes its existence to the water as it was founded as a military outpost to protect the entrance to the St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario. The colonial authorities worried about the vulnerability of the connection down the St. Lawrence to American attack opened the Rideau Canal in 1832 to Connect Kingston to the Ottawa River, adding a new water feature to the geography that today is mainly for recreation. The rivers were also key to the lumber industry as logs were floated down river to saw mills, and one of these lumber towns, Bytown (now Ottawa), was later chosen as Canada's capital.

European settlement inland (away from the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers) didn't start until the first half of the 1800s, when the settlements of Russell, Saint Augustine-de-Catherine (now Embrun), Perth and Smiths Falls were founded. Eastern Ontario continued to grow throughout the rest of the 1800s and into the 1900s, now with government jobs in Ottawa as a main driver. Then the water changed again in 1959, when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened and flooded several historic communities, which are memorialized at Upper Canada Village and the Lost Villages Museum in Morrisburg.

During the 1940s to 1970s the size of government in Ottawa dramatically expanded, bringing increased prosperity to the region. Since that time, information technology and tourism have also emerged as major industries.

Talk
When it comes to language, Eastern Ontario is divided into three linguistic sub-regions:
 * 1) The Canadian French area is mainly in Prescott-Russell, in the far northeastern section of Eastern Ontario. In this area, the French language is dominant culturally, though you should have no problem being understood in English.
 * 2) The Canadian English area is mainly in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Leeds-Grenville, Frontenac County and Lanark County. In this area, the English language is dominant culturally.
 * 3) The Ottawa Valley Twang area is mainly in Renfrew County. In this area, an accent of the English language, called Ottawa Valley Twang is dominant. Often common phrases that are normally two words are pronounced as though there is no space between them (eg. "Good day" is pronounced as "gidday").

Climate
Although Canada has a reputation for being very cold, low-lying parts of Eastern Ontario are in the "Long Summer/Short Winter" belt of Ontario, where summer can arrive early and stay late, providing some pleasant warmth in late spring and early autumn. Summers in Eastern Ontario usually last from late May to late September, and winters last about from late November/early December to late March.

The first snowfalls of the year usually occur in November, but snow doesn't actually cover the ground until December. Snow in October is not unheard of, though it's usually just a flurry and rarely lasts more than a day or two.

In the spring, the snow usually starts melting in March, although occasional warm breaks with temperatures as high as 10°C (50°F) usually occur once or twice in January and February, and snow flurries can still occur in April or even May.

Often in the winter freezing rain will occur, when it is not warm enough for rain but not cold enough for snow. Freezing rain is rain that turns to ice after it hits the ground, which makes driving very hazardous and often closes down schools and makes the roads very icy for a few days.

Humidity is common in summer, especially in July and August. Although temperatures are usually just under 30°C (86°F), humidity can make the temperature feel like it's about 38°C (100°F). Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, with temperatures rising above 30°C for a few days at a time, when humidex temperatures can feel closer to 45°C (113°F).

Get in

 * By car
 * The Trans-Canada Highway (17/417) follows the Ottawa Valley through Pembroke and Ottawa to Montréal
 * Ontario highway 401 follows the Windsor-Quebec corridor from Toronto, passing through Kingston-Brockville-Cornwall and continuing toward Montréal
 * From New York state, Interstate 81 ends at the Thousand Islands bridge in Leeds and the 1000 Islands, 15 km east of Gananoque on the 401. There are also bridges across the St. Lawrence River at Prescott-Ogdensburg and Cornwall-Massena.
 * From the Outaouais and Western Quebec there is one bridge in Pembroke, five in Ottawa-Gatineau and one in Hawkesbury to cross the Ottawa River into Ontario

 * By bus
 * Megabus (Coach Canada) operates in the Toronto-Kingston-Montreal corridor with several runs daily
 * A few local (city) buses on both OCTranspo and STO cross between Ottawa-Hull or Ottawa-Hull-Gatineau. Ottawa city buses are red and white, Gatineau are light blue.

 * By train
 * Via Rail runs three "corridor" services through the region several times a day. These include:
 * Toronto-Kingston-Montréal: stopping at Cornwall, Brockville, Gananoque, Napanee, Belleville, Cobourg and Port Hope
 * Toronto-Kingston-Ottawa: stopping at Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Napanee, Belleville, Cobourg and Port Hope
 * Ottawa-Montréal: stopping at Casselman and Alexandria

 * By air
 * Ottawa International is the one major airport in-region.
 * Kingston has a small airport for private planes;
 * Montréal-Trudeau is slightly out of region, but has good air-to-rail connections westward into the St. Lawrence Valley

 * By boat
 * There are a few ferry crossings on the Ottawa River in small places like Cumberland-Masson which lack an interprovincial bridge to Québec
 * There is a privately-operated international ferry from Cape Vincent NY to Wolfe Island which operates seasonally
 * Cruising on small craft is possible on the Ottawa River (from Ottawa eastward), the Rideau Canal, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes

Get around

 * Local city bus service of varying quality is available in cities including Belleville, Kingston, Brockville and Ottawa

See

Ottawa, as the National Capital, has excellent national museums and galleries devoted to various subjects from arts to science to warfare. Kingston is a small, exceedingly pleasant city on Lake Ontario, with a beautiful university, and lots of old limestone buildings that are central to its character.

There is lots of history through the region, including Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, a pioneer village living history museum. Fort Wellington in Prescott and Fort Henry in Kingston recreate military exercises and displays from the post-War of 1812 era

Merrickville is a small but charming canal-side village on the Rideau which makes a good day trip from Ottawa.

Itineraries

 * Rideau Canal
 * Trans-Canada Highway
 * Windsor-Quebec corridor

Do
Cruises of the Thousand Islands are popular, especially in the summer. They start from Kingson, Gananoque and Brockville, and some include a tour of the historic Boldt Castle, which sits on one of the islands.

Whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River is popular, as is skiing in Calabogie. In winter, part of the Rideau Canal in Ottawa is turned into an 8-km-long skating rink. From late March until mid November, the region offers excellent cycling opportunities on the hundreds of kilometers of separate cycling infrastructure. In winter there are options for renting fat bikes to cycle in the snow. The city also has an increasing number of urban cross country ski trails starting at parking lots and light rail stations.

There are many events in Ottawa, including Winterlude, a large winter carnival in February, with ice and snow sculptures, concerts, and an 8-km-long skating rink (weather permitting).

The Tulip Festival in early May. The tulip bulbs were an annual gift from Princess Juliana from the Netherlands after her stay in Ottawa during the war years as well as from the Dutch population for the liberation of the Netherlands in which Canada played an important role. Eventually the annual ambundance of tens of thousands of tulips was turned into a festival in May. The Netherlands government operated in exile in London, England during the Second World War.

Canada Day (July 1) is celebrated in a big way throughout the city of Ottawa.

Eat

 * Maple sugar shacks are popular in early spring; the season usually begins soon after the spring thaw
 * Strawberries and apples may be picked in-season; the strawberries are usually ripe in late June, just before the Canada Day holiday. Apples are usually ripe between mid September and mid October.

Drink

 * Prince Edward County is winery country - not quite on the same scale as the Niagara Peninsula, but there is a growing number of small vineyards

Stay safe

 * While most of Eastern Ontario is beaten path, animal collisions remain a risk on some highways. Winter driving and ice safety are also a concern in the off-season.

Go next

 * Montréal and Southwestern Quebec
 * Outaouais
 * Central and Northern Ontario
 * Northern New York State

title: Eastern Ontario


text:
Eastern Oregon

Eastern Oregon is the eastern portion of Oregon which is arid and sparsely inhabited. Much of it is desert and semi-desert. It covers between a third and a half of the state's land area. There are several mountain ranges running through this area (i.e.: Blue Mountains) which rise up substantially from the surrounding plain and which are forested with stands of Ponderosa Pines and Larch.

Cities

 * — a small city on the I-84 between Pendleton and Ontario with a number of nicely restored heritage buildings.
 * — the site of only public fossil field in the U.S.
 * — a town on the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway with many shops, galleries and little cafes.
 * — a small city on the I-84 between Pendleton and Baker City, one of the starting points of the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway route.
 * — the last city in Oregon on the border with Idaho on the Snake River.
 * — on the I-84, noted for its woolen mills and yearly Pendleton Roundup.
 * — a town on the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway with many shops, galleries and little cafes.
 * — a small city on the I-84 between Pendleton and Baker City, one of the starting points of the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway route.
 * — the last city in Oregon on the border with Idaho on the Snake River.
 * — on the I-84, noted for its woolen mills and yearly Pendleton Roundup.
 * — the last city in Oregon on the border with Idaho on the Snake River.
 * — on the I-84, noted for its woolen mills and yearly Pendleton Roundup.
 * — the last city in Oregon on the border with Idaho on the Snake River.
 * — on the I-84, noted for its woolen mills and yearly Pendleton Roundup.

Other destinations

 * Hells Canyon - the part of the Snake River on the border between Idaho and Oregon. Parts of the River in this area are still wild but much of it is a series of reservoirs created by power dams.  One part of the Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon but getting to the overlook is generally only possible during the summer because some access roads are not maintained during winter.
 * John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Within the John Day Valley are fossil beds. These sedimentary rock layers preserve a 40-million-year record of plant and animal life.
 * Nez Perce National Historical Park - Since time immemorial, the Nimiipuu or Nez Perce have lived among the rivers, canyons and prairies of the inland northwest. Despite the cataclysmic change of the past two centuries, the Nez Perce are still here.

Understand
Several of the counties here are classified as "Frontier" counties, for good reason. The "Old West" is not necessarily gone in many places of this region. "Cowboys and Indians" are not some play characters in movies or dime novels, but real folks making a living in this beautiful and uncrowded landscape. Much has been modernized-- you won't find gunslingers walking about town with pistols strapped to their hips and horses are kept at the ranch, not ridden to town-- but the attitudes of individualism and mutual respect continue, for white passing people.

Non-white visitors to Eastern Oregon may encounter hostile reactions due to racism. Prineville experienced backlash against George Floyd protests in 2021, including the flying of many Confederate flags.

Get around
This is a big area transversed by and numerous U.S. Highways. Most off-the-beaten-path attractions (which most are) must be accessed by the many scenic roads running through the high plains and mountains of the area. Private vehicle is practically the only way to travel in the area, but cycling could be enjoyable (and physically demanding) on many of the smaller highways.

 * US 20.svg travels east-west through the center and south part of the state, providing access to Burns and its attractions until it crosses into Idaho.

 * US 26.svg is an east-west highway in the northern part of Eastern Oregon connecting from the coast to the Idaho border.

 * US 395.svg makes its way roughly N-NE through Oregon and passes from the OR-CA state line to Washigton, passing through Lakeview, Riley, John Day and Pendleton on its way towards the Columbia River in Hermiston. It runs concurrent with I-84 between Pendleton and Hermiston and along I-82 across the Columbia River into Pasco, WA.

See

 * Oregon Trail - visit the Oregon Trail Interpretive Centre located on a hill 6 miles (10 km) east of Baker City on the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway. This is a National Historic Site and is well worth a visit.
 * Owyhee Uplands
 * Oregon Badlands Wilderness
 * Fort Rock and Christmas Valley
 * Leslie Gulch
 * Succor Creek
 * The Honeycombs
 * The Honeycombs

Do

The three rivers that border Sherman County provide world class recreation. The Columbia River to the north provides world class wind surfing and kite sailing. The moderate wind speeds and large swells on the river can provide for some interesting viewing of these activities. On days when the wind is not blowing the wide river provides great water skiing and personal watercraft riding. Fishing is also popular on the Columbia. Depending on the time of year, the Columbia provides excellent walleye, sturgeon, steelhead, and salmon fishing.

To the west lies the wild Deschutes River. The Deschutes is famous for fly fishermen to test their luck at landing salmon, steelhead, and trout. It was once rumored that Tiger Woods even made the trip to test his luck. If fishing isn't exciting enough for you, then the white water rafting might be what you are after. The ever-changing rapids provide dangerous yet exciting fun. Even if you're car camping off the I-84, Deschutes State Park, east of The Dalles is a fine place to stay (especially in low season) and there are trails leading up the River for miles with opportunities for bird-watching.

The John Day River to the east provides steelhead fishing in the colder months and great bass fishing in the summer time. The lower John Day also allows for water skiing.

Eat
All of the many cities and small towns have at least some cafes and restaurants if you're not cooking for yourself.

Drink
Like other Oregonians, those in the vast East like their booze, but remember they may be a bit more conservative about it that those in the Willamette Valley (Portland, Eugene, etc.) and that you will have to go a bit further to get it. Most towns with more than 500 people have at least one bar, usually two; the smaller outposts, such as Paulina, may have one, but don't stake your last dollar on it.

Unless you are in a larger Eastern Oregon town, count on a more limited selection than what is usually available elsewhere in the state and more beer-only establishments.

Stay safe
Eastern Oregon is very sparsely inhabited, especially in the southeast counties. Always make sure your vehicle is in good working order and that you carry extra fuel and food. Help can sometimes be a long way away and cell-phone services is spotty.

Eastern Oregon has a serious safety problem with radicalized right wing paramilitary groups. White Christian Nationalism is apparent throughout Eastern Oregon, and travelers of color are cautioned to stay in groups and avoid being singled out by locals, especially bands of young white men. LGBT+ travelers should be cautious in all parts of Eastern Oregon due to rising incidences of violence and other hate crimes.

The high-desert environment is one of extremes: autumn and winter can bring harsh snowfalls, while daytime summer temperatures can easily reach ninety degrees or more with considerable drops at night. Of course, altitude variances compound the issue: it could be 80F and sunny June day in Burns (4147' / 1264 m) yet snowing on Steens Mountain (9733' / 2967 m) - a major regional attraction - some seventy miles away. Always check the weather conditions of where you are and where you are going frequently, and carry layers of clothing so that you can adapt to any sudden changes.

Yes, there are rattlesnakes. No, they won't hurt you if you don't bother them. Same goes with the rest of the wildlife, to which the same usual rules apply: don't feed them, don't approach them...just leave them alone.

Be aware of hunting season if you plan on tromping around by foot and dress accordingly.

Go next

 * Southwestern Idaho, to the east
 * Columbia River Plateau, to the north
 * Central Oregon and Cascade Mountains to the west

title: Eastern Oregon


text:
Eastern Panama

Eastern Panama includes some of Panama Province and the whole of the largely impenetrable Darien Province plus Guna Yala.

Understand
Darién is the easternmost province of Panama. The area is heavily forested and undeveloped, and it is literally the end of the road for the Pan-American Highway, which ends in the village of Yaviza. The wilderness that follows until the road starts again in Colombia is known as the Darién Gap, and is an extremely dangerous area plagued by Colombian narcotraffickers and guerrillas.

Guna Yala or Kuna Yala is limited in the north by the Caribbean sea, in the south by the province of Panamá, in the East by Colombia and in the west by the province of Colón. The area it covers is 3206 km² and stretches over 373 km. The coast is lined by an archipelago of 365 islands, 49 of them inhabited. According to the census of 2004, Kuna Yala had 36,487 inhabitants. The region enjoys a certain degree of sovereignty within Panama, as constituted by the 'ley orgánica 16 de 1953'. The Congreso General Guna, which meets twice a year, is the highest political authority of Guna Yala. The economy of Guna Yala depends mainly on agriculture, fishery and tourism industry. Farming is mostly for subsistence; the traditional crops are guineo, corn (maíze), sugarcane and some coconut.

Get in
The Darien Gap is the one break in the Pan-American Highway, meaning that overland travel across Central America is pretty much impossible. This 60 mile gap without roads has been successfully crossed a handful of times – usually by expeditions equipped with off-road vehicles and staffed by special forces types. Attempts to bridge the gap with a road have stalled, partly because of environmental protest and concern that an overland route may expose North America to foot and mouth disease from South American cattle.

Crossing by a combination of foot and boat is not only possible but relatively easy – as long as you stick to the Caribbean side and "hedgehog" from resort to resort, thus avoiding the dangerous inland zone.

Stay safe
Darién is a spectacular destination for anyone interested in pristine rainforest. That said, this is absolutely not a place to go unless you do your homework first. The Darien Gap is a haven for drug cartels and paramilitaries, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world. Attempting to cross the Gap on foot will most likely get you into more trouble than you can handle.

The areas of interest for tourists are not in the Gap zone but be aware that the entire province is a rough place and you should definitely hire a guide if you decide to explore the forests here.

title: Eastern Panama


text:
Eastern Plains

There is more than one place called Eastern Plains:

Colombia

 * Eastern Plains (Colombia) - A region in Colombia.

United States of America

 * Eastern Plains (Colorado) - A region in Colorado.

title: Eastern Plains