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Myitkyina

Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State in Northern Myanmar. The population of the city is around 150,000 and includes an ethnic mix of Bamar, Kachin and ethnic Indians.

Understand
Although today a sleepy backwater, Myitkyina was the site of a bitter battle between Japanese and Allied forces during the Second World War. The town was almost completely destroyed in the battle. The location of the town, in an opportunistic valley between India and China, made it strategic enough to be on the Ledo Road built by the US General Joseph Stilwell. Myitkyina could, one day, become an important way station for trade between the two Asian giants, India and China. For now, Myitkyina is a destination because of the journey. There is no road or river connection to Bhamo due to conflicts between "rebels" and the army south of the city) and because it is a staging point for trips to Indawgyi Lake and Putao (Jun 2012).

The best time to visit is in late Oct-early Feb.

Get around
Myitkyina is small. You can get anywhere in the city by trishaw or by walking.

If you arrive by train, turn left and walk along the main street to get to the city centre. After reaching an intersection with a clock tower, turn right and left to go to New Light Hotel, or left and right for the YMCA.

As of February 2018 foreigners are still barred from river or overland travel to Bhamo To reach Bhamo there is only one flight a week, Myanmar Air leaving at 1 pm Monday's. The flight is only 25 minutes and as of February 2018 the cost was $86 USD with taxes and travel agent fees. Other option is to travel to Katha and travel up river by boat.

Tuk tuk to the airport (10 minutes from town) will be around 3,000-4,000 kyat.

Do
Visit the memorial dedicated to the Chinese Expeditionary Forces.

Buy
One can find and buy the world's best jade and gems. Buy Kachin traditional dresses, handicrafts, and other national cultural textiles and food.

Go next

 * Myitson (Mali Zup in Kachin language), the confluence of Mali and Nmai Rivers and the starting point of the Irrawady River, 32 km from Myitkyina
 * Indawgyi Lake

title: Myitkyina


text:
Myjava

Myjava is in Western Slovakia. Myjava is a beautiful town lying in the fold between the hilly environments in north-west Slovakia. There are many opportunities for hiking in the surrounding area.

Understand
An area of Myjava lies in border between Slovakia and Moravia (Czech Republic). There is magnificent nature, hills, forests, rich fauna and flora. Myjava with its population of 11,600 people  (2018) and 12 544 993 m2 area belongs to Trenčín County. Myjava region (with villages and suburbs) has 28,000 people (2010) and 326.55 km2 area.

History
The city of Myjava lies on the Myjava Upland, which is on the border between Slovakia and Moravia (part of Czech Republic). Myjava as a village was founded in 1586. First settlers, which appeared there, were escaping in the face of Turks from southern parts of Slovakia. Some time after, the second settlers were inhabitants of Trencin and Orava. There were not easy conditions to live, but these conditions were forming relationship between people living there and this region, village, ecclesia. People living there did not agree with subjection. The result of this disagreement was attendance at 4 anti-Habsburgs uprisings. Therefore, Myjava became famous in middle Europe in 17th and 18th centuries.

Myjava was still colonized after year 1586, which is certified by evidence of Moravians from the year 1652. In this time the most famous human was evangelistic bishop Daniel Krman, who all his life initiated into uplift evangelistic religion there. His biggest merit was building of evangelic church, which was built in 1711. This building has still stood in the center of Myjava, but it is repaired. Except this church Daniel founded 3 guilds.

The symbol of ending religious fighting, which leads to subduction of evangelic church in favor of Roman Catholic ecclesia, is new evangelic church, which was built in 1758. The tower was built out in 1856. This tower is dominant of past and present Myjava.

Myjava became part of Central European and Slovak history for the second time in 1848, when because of J.M.Hurban and some other nationalists, this village was involved in the national-liberal offensive. The result of this offensive was the first Slovak uprising. On 19 September 1848, the Slovak National Council was confirmed. This body ran the first-ever Slovak Republic, as it had political and military force. This council sat in the house of Mrs. Koleny, which is now a part of museum of Slovak national council.

The decline of handicrafts in the 19th century was connected to national and economic subjection. Consequently, there was big emigration to USA, Canada and Argentina. The most people from Myjava were settled down in the biggest cities as a New York, Chicago, Pittsburg and Cleveland, but also in smaller cities in states of New York, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Texas. But the biggest centre of emigrated Slovaks was Little Falls in the state of New York.

Big development was in 1955, when in the 1st of April Myjava became city, and new villages were founded as Brestovec, Stará Myjava, Poriadie, Rudník, Jablonka and Polianka. In 1960 Myjava became a part of Senica region. Myjava and Turá Lúka merged in the 1st of January in 1980 and in 1996 Myjava became again a region.

Get in
It is possible to get in by car through speedways D1 from Malacky or D2 from Nové Mesto nad Váhom or Piešťany. Another possibility is train but the disadvantage is that you have to transmit in Nové Mesto nad Váhom. You can get in by bus too.

Get around
Myjava is not a big town; therefore, people usually use bicycle or roller-skates to get somewhere, for example to get from one end of the town to another one. Public transport is not very common, it is rare and it is often used by people who need to get to the hospital.

See and do
There is a lake named Stara Myjava, where people from nearby villages and towns used to go swimming and sunbathing. It is approximately 8 km from Myjava and it is possible to go there by bike, roller-skates, car or bus. Nice nature is all around. This colossal place lies near Czech-Slovak border and there you can rent a cottage.

Hiking is also possible there. Many tourist routes are there; from Myjava there is possibility for hiking; you can go to Javorina, what is the highest hill in the Czech-Slovak border. In the summer the Czech-Slovak festival is held here.

Another beautiful place for hiking is Bradlo where is a monument built for the glory of Milan Rastislav Stefanik. He was our politician, diplomat and astronomer. He died during the landing of his plane, which crashed near Ivanka pri Dunaji. His death is not still accounted for. This monument Bradlo lies in the hill near Brezova pod Bradlom that is approximately 10 km from Myjava. It is also possible to go there by bike. There is a beautiful route from Myjava to Bradlo and back. If you want to go to the restaurant during your trip you can go from Myjava through Brezova pod Bradlom to Bradlo and than from Bradlo to Kosariska, where is one typical Slovak restaurant cooking typical Slovak meals. It is also possible to go to the museum of Milan Rastislav Stefanik in Kosariska. From Kosariska there is a route through Priepasne and Polianka back to Myjava. Myjava in general is now in reconstruction; infrastructure is being rebuilt and other new buildings are being built now. The new bus station is already finished, new roads were put everywhere and new footpaths are already put down. There is new courthouse where you can go to the cinema or to see some performance. Moreover; there is a pub with beautiful stage with view of the town.

There is also an old museum of SNR (Slovak National Council – Slovenska Narodna Rada), where the first Slovak National revolt had been planned. It is worth seeing it, you can see there Slovak traditional house and other stuff used in the past by Slovak farmers and citizens.

Folklore Festival is held in the end of June in Trnovce, what is a part of Myjava. There is magnificent nature, open air theatre and restaurant. During the festival there are many stalls with various products such as Myjavska slivovica (kind of alcohol produced in this region), other traditional Slovak products, sweets and other accessories. Many folklore groups from various nations are coming to show their culture and traditions. Magnificent performance lasts for three days.

Eat
There are not many places to eat but the few places that there are, are in high quality. The Restaurant in Trnovce is restaurant situated in the middle of beautiful nature and it is easy to get in by car, bicycle or foot. If you are a lover of pizza, visit the restaurant Gurmán in Kosariska (10 km from Myjava) or Cross Restaurant (in the middle of the town with pleasant view of our evangelic church). Another possibility is to visit another restaurant in Kosariska called U Juhasa, where traditional Slovak meals are cooked.

Drink
Movie's Bar: this pub is in the centre: comfortable environment, kind waiting and admirable prices.

Blue Bar: the biggest advantage of this pub is a fact that it is prohibited to smoke in its internal room. On the other hand, its outside balcony has a perfect view of Myjava and its centre.

LaVita: is most visited pub in Myjava

SuperNova: is a disco club near LaVita

Bowling: this pub is the biggest one and there are two bowling tracks.

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

title: Myjava


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Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv (Ukrainian: Миколаїв, also transliterated Nikolaev or Nikolayev from Russian: Николаев) is a city in Southern Ukraine. It is an important shipbuilding centre and transportation hub for Ukraine, and has a large military presence. It had a large Jewish population until the Holocaust in World War II.

History
Mykolaiv was founded in 1789 in the aftermath of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 together with neighbouring cities of Kherson (1778) and later Odesa (1794). It was named Nikolaev (Russian: Никола́ев) by its founder, Prince Grigory Potemkin after the sailors' patron saint. and also after the day in December 1788 when general Suvorov captured major Turkish fortress of Achikale (now Ochakov/Ochakiv, in 60 km from Mykolaiv). The first ship "St. Nicholas" was built in 1790. Its current English name is a transliteration of its Ukrainian name, which was adopted following Ukrainian independence in 1992.

Mykolaiv became the navy shipbuilding centre of the Russian Empire. Mykolaiv was governed by a military governor until 1900. The oldest shipyard (modern name '61 Communars') was founded one year earlier than the city in 1788. Soldiers, craftsmen and free people from various areas of Russian Empire were ordered to Mykolaiv. Some streets still have numbered names according to founders' occupation: 11th Voennaya (Military) or 9th Slobodska (Free settler). The city was well planned from the beginning. Main streets are wide and were used to carry wood to the shipyards. Glamorous parks make a big portion of the city. Downtown area is located on the peninsula made by Southern Bug and Ingul rivers estuary. The Black Sea navy headquarters was located in Mykolaiv for more than 100 years until it moved to Sevastopol. It retained its status as a major naval shipbuilding centre throughout the Soviet era.

Shipbuilding is a part of Mykolaiv history. There are three shipyards in Mykolaiv and the only Shipbuilding University in Ukraine. Mykolaiv was closed to foreign visitors until the late 1980s because of large navy projects (as well as Air Force base, turbine plant and military port).

Mykolaiv was major Jewish centre of Russian Empire in 19th century. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (the seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty) was born in Mykolaiv on April 18, 1902.

The city had a population of about 500,000 in 2015.

Talk
Although Ukrainian is the sole official language in all of Ukraine, Russian is the first language of most locals in Mykolaiv.

By plane
The closest operating airport is in Chișinău:

By train
Direct trains from Kyiv (10 hours), Lviv (18 hours), and Odesa (5 hours) depart every day. All trains have coach cars.

By car
Main routes from Kherson (65 km), Odesa (120 km), Uman' (320 km), Chishinau (325 km), the Crimea (350 km), Kyiv (500 km), Kharkiv (520 km), Lviv (950 km). Usually gas (petrol) is cheaper than in Western Europe, approximately the same price as in North America. Check if you can hire a driver with a car. Be careful if you travel alone and don't forget to carry a mobile phone. Hitchhiking is not recommended. The roads are terrible and dangerous. Use seat belts despite of comments from local drivers.

By bus
Direct daily connections from Kyiv (10 hours), Kharkiv (12 hours), Odesa (2 hours), Cishinau (7 hours), Khmelnytskyi (11 hours). Be prepared to sleep in the bus seat if you decide to take a night coach. Bus from Hamburg, Germany (42-hour trip) departs twice a week.

By boat
Even though Mykolaiv has a major Ukrainian commercial sea port (Portnikolaev; 5 million tonnes in 2004), there are no regular passenger lines.

By public transport

Mykolaiv has a convenient public transport system:

Single ride tickets in buses cost 6-18 грн, in marshrutkas — 11-20 грн, in trams and trolleybuses — 8 грн.
 * 5 bus routes
 * 32 marshrutka routes
 * 6 tram routes
 * 6 trolleybus routes

Schedules are available on the official website.

You can also check information about public transport on EasyWay and Google Maps.

By taxi
Taxi is the easiest way of getting around the city. Some popular taxi companies include:

See

 * Ukrainian theatre.
 * Russian drama theatre.
 * Zoo (one of the biggest in Europe, the biggest in Ukraine).
 * Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet
 * Museum of Arts.
 * Lutheran Church.
 * Catholic Church.
 * Russian Orthodox Church (1825).
 * Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
 * Synagogue.
 * Astronomical observatory (1821, 31.58E,46.58N).
 * Swimming pool 'Vodoley'.
 * Radsad wineries (right bank of the Southern Bug river).
 * Old Greek settlement Olvio (30 km south of Mykolaiv).
 * Yacht-club.
 * Soborna (main pedestrian street in town) is the place to be any night of the week with several gorgeous parks and lots of shopping.

Do

 * Shtorm bowling (Sadova 2), also a nightclub on a second level.

Walk around. Mykolaiv is a relatively safe town with lots of cool stuff to see.

Learn
National Shipbuilding University; Pedagogical University; Agrarian University; Petro Mohyla Humanitarian University

Buy
Western shoppers will be surprised by affordability of fashion European clothing in Mykolaiv. Pedestrian Soborna and adjacent streets make local shopping district. Western-style supermarkets accept major credit cards. Don't forget to buy local wines (Radsad or Koblevo brands) as a souvenirs. Prepare to pay 1-3% to local banks for ATM machines ('bankomat') withdrawals. Watch your pockets at crowded public markets.

Eat
Local meat product labels usually don't say 'organic' but mostly they are. Dairy products are delicious, especially ice cream. Even McDonalds used to mention "We use Ukrainian ingredients" in TV commercials. Vegetables are mostly seasonal. Fish is delicious but can have small bones when served in restaurant. Ready-to-go homemade food can be found in local stores.

Budget
Any clean cafe can offer hearty inexpensive dish of local food. Ask for 'borsch' (beet soup), 'bliny' (crêpes - thin stuffed pancakes), 'zharkoe' (meat with potatoes and mushrooms in a clay pot). You must sure try out the chicken. Ukraine is a country of the chicken. It is cheap and you will get a lot on your plate.

Mid-range
Celentano pizza (#1 on Faleevska/Lenina and #2 on Spaska/Lyagina), Bocas del Torro (Radyanska between Potemkinska and Shevchenka: try every salad in the salad bar!), Bliny. Don't forget to try out the rest of the food of Pizza Celentano. The service is good so is the atmosphere very cozy.

Blindage (Radyanska/Velyka Mors'ka which is like an armory museum: waitress in military uniform will offer you a triple shot of vodka in real bullet casings and weapons of Soviet and German World War II armies).

McDonalds (Radyanska)

Splurge
Coliseum (Radyanska/Shevchenko), Malakhit (Moskovska/Spaska)

Astoria - great food, good service, good prices

Drink
Try local wines from Radsad winery. White: Chardonnay, Aligote; red: Merlot, Cabernet. Wines with alcohol content of more than 15% are artificially fortified with sugar, avoid them. Buy vodka or cognac in stores only. Western brands are very expensive, and bars commonly water them down. Local brewery Yantar (Amber) belongs to InBev beer group (brands Stella Artois, Taller, etc.) and makes 10% of Ukrainian beer production.

Try out the Ukraine milkshake at Pizza Celentano. You won't believe that it is only very cold milk with sugar. The texture is amazingly creamy but it's not too sweet.

 * Delerium is an upscale nightclub. Open Tu-Su 21:00-05:00.

Budget

 * Nikolaev (Lenina 107, corner of Sadova)
 * Parus (Sportivna 9, river view, )

Mid-range

 * Vladam/Piligrim (Sadova 3b,, private hotel, Christian management);
 * Na Admirala Makarova, 1/2 block from McDonald's at Lyagina St. 18,, email: Mykolaiv_hotel@ukr.net, modern, comfortable beds, AC, 15 rooms, friendly staff, accepts credit cards, double 500-700 грн/night (June 2018).
 * Hotel Turist (Tourist)
 * Hotel Continent

Splurge

 * Ingul Admiralska 34,, 5-star price for 3-star service
 * Metalurg, 20 km from downtown in satellite city district of Zhovtneve, prospekt Oktyabrskiy 319a,
 * Business Complex Aleksandrovskiy
 * Hotel Palace Ukraine
 * Hotel Palace Ukraine

Stay safe
Important numbers: 102-police; 103-medical emergency. Purchase a mobile phone or SIM card from Vodafone or Kyivstar  GSM 900/1800 providers to stay connected. Though Mykolaiv has been a safe city, in 2012, an increasing series of crimes have been reported. Avoid drunk people and don't drink with people that you don't know. Avoid buying cut-rate liquor from public markets. It's too often counterfeit and potentially dangerous. Avoid staying out after midnight, and if you do, call a taxi service (067). TB and Hepatitis immunization is recommended.

title: Mykolaiv


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Mykonos

Mykonos (Greek: Μύκονος) is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Mykonos is located south of Tinos, east of Syros and north of Paros and Naxos.

Understand
Mykonos is famed as a cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognised as one of the great travel meccas. It is one of the most visited islands in the Aegean. This means that visitors should be prepared for loud dance clubs, English breakfasts and overpriced merchandise. Mykonos, along with Santorini, is more expensive than other Greek islands.

Mykonos tends to be extremely crowded with visitors in July and August. The best time to visit Mykonos is mid-May through June (early season, when accommodations are much cheaper and it's not too hot), or September through mid-October (post season).

Mykonos is a gay-friendly island, featuring a vibrant gay nightlife, ranking among the most popular holiday destinations in Europe among gay travellers. While there are many other destinations around the Mediterranean that see sizeable gay tourist traffic, Mykonos managed to remain refined and romantic rather than rowdy.

If you're gay, get yourself an up-to-date map with all the gay venues. The most popular beaches with gay visitors are Super Paradise and Elia. These are not strictly gay, but they have parts where gay men and women congregate. The only gay beach deserving of the title is the small beach between Elia and Agrari.

Orientation
Mykonos' main communities are Chora, the island's port town and capital, and Ano Mera.

 * Mykonos Town (Chora) is a stunningly picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of tiny, whitewashed streets, houses and churches, gathered around its harbour in the middle of a wide bay. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean.

Although the streets are lined with little shops, boutiques, art galleries, cafes, stylish bars and restaurants, Mykonos Town has not completely lost its identity. Despite the island's rapid growth and development, its traditional Cycladic architectural style and character has remained firmly intact, thanks to the island's strict building regulations.

 * Ano Mera is a small village on the middle of the island, and the only inland settlement on the whole of Mykonos, about 7 km east of Mykonos Town. Ano Mera is based around a large central square, which is lined on three sides by a series of Greek tavernas. The monastery of Panagia Tourliani, founded in 1542, is Ano Mera's most significant highlight.

Other small communities include:

 * Agios Ioannis is a small settlement with two taverns, one restaurant and one tiny store. Agios Ioannis is famous as the location for the movie "Shirley Valentine".
 * Agios Stefanos with many hotels, good restaurants, taverns and cafes.
 * Platys Gialos is a popular tourist resort where small fishing boats transport tourists to the southern beaches of Mykonos.
 * Ornos with several choices for staying, food and drink, and a well organized food market with a butcher's shop, bakery, supermarket and a pharmacy.
 * Tourlos is where most of the cruise ships dock, private yachts and fishing boats use the marina and the port receives some of the ferries coming from the mainland or other islands.

Climate
The climate of Mykonos is characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Like in most of the Aegean islands it hardly ever rains during summer but rain showers can be expected between October and April.

Temperatures in July and August range from 30°C (86°F) during the day to 22°C (72°F) at night. The Cyclades are famous for the constant wind (called meltemi) in July and August that mitigates the heat a bit.

Mid-May through mid-October is usually warm and sunny enough to enjoy the beaches.

Talk
Greek is the official language of Greece, and therefore it's spoken by all the permanent inhabitants of the island and most of its visitors, but the foreign visitor will have no problem at all communicating in foreign languages, mainly in English.

By boat
From the Greek mainland ferries and high speed catamaran services run daily from Piraeus and Rafina. The highspeeds take half the time but cost twice as much.

The journey between the port of Piraeus (Athens) and Mykonos takes between 3 hr 30 min and 5 hr 15 min, depending on the type of ferry you are taking. On a slow ferry a seat in economy class will cost €32; on a highspeed service expect to pay €54.50. In Piraeus all the highspeed ferries to Mykonos depart from Port Gate Ε7; the conventional ferries leave from Port Gate Ε1. Most of the ferries connecting Piraeus to Mykonos stop working by end of October and resume by April.

Many travelers probably don't even consider Rafina a possible departure port if they are heading to one of the Cyclades, but if you are arriving at the airport of Athens you are often better off taking a ferry from Rafina than traveling to Athens and get a ferry from Piraeus. The journey between Rafina and Mykonos takes between 2 hr 10 min and 5 hr 30 min, depending on the type of ferry you are taking. On a regular ferry expect to pay €23.50 per person for a seat in economy class; on a high speed catamaran service expect to pay €52.50. Most of the ferries connecting Rafina to Mykonos stop working by end of October and resume by April.

Mykonos can also be reached directly from other islands in the Cyclades. More than once a day there is a boat connection from Syros, Andros, Tinos and Paros. There are daily boat connections from Naxos, Ios, Santorini and Crete. There's a daily overnight ferry, the 'Nissos Mykonos', from Samos (Vathi and Karlovassi) and Ikaria. There are less frequent boat connections from Serifos, Sifnos,  Kimolos,  Milos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Thirassia and Anafi.

Ferry companies: Pre-booking of ferries and highspeeds is only necessary from mid-July to late August or just before or after a Greek holiday. Beware that every year at the 15th of Augustus the island of Tinos is a goal for thousands of orthodox pilgrims. Most ferries and highspeeds from Piraeus and Rafina to Mykonos make a stop at Tinos. This means that around this period it is recommended to buy tickets well in advance. Also expect a lot of Greek tourist to visit Mykonos around the weekend of Pentecost, in late May or early June.
 * Hellenic Seaways provide a fast hydrofoil connection and regular ferries from Piraeus (Highspeed 5 and Highspeed 6) and Rafina (Flying Cat 3).
 * Seajets have a regular schedule in the summer from Piraeus (SuperJet) and Rafina (Seajet 2).
 * Blue Star Ferries have a regular daily schedules from Piraeus throughout the year (Blue Star Ithaki).
 * Aegean Speed Lines have a daily high speed ferry operating from Piraeus (Speedrunner 3).

Keep in mind that if you book your ticket online, you may still need to collect the ticket from a travel agency once you get to Greece.

Boat services can be cancelled due to strong wind. Weather cancellations are very rare, though, only a few days over the course of a summer.

Mykonos has two ports: the old port in Mykonos Town, and the new port at Tourlos, about 2 km north of Mykonos Town. Check before you travel which port your boat will use. Most of the ferries use the new port. The highspeed catamaran services still use the old port in Mykonos Town.

From the port to Mykonos Town
The best option is the SeaBus that will get you into town for €2. It leaves every half hour and the entire journey (2 stops at the new port and 2 stops in Mykonos town) takes 12 min.

During high season there is an infrequent public bus service from the new port in Tourlos to Mykonos Town. It is best to take a taxi. It is possible to walk from the new port into town, but it will take around 45 minutes along a busy main road without a sidewalk.

From the old port it is a short and easy walk along the coast into town.

By cruise ship
Mykonos is a popular stop on cruise ship tours of the Greek Islands. Almost all cruise ships dock at the new port in Tourlos, though some cruise ships use the old port.

If you are arriving at the new port, make use of the cruise shuttle bus to Mykonos Town. You can also take a taxi yourself, but with so many people arriving at the same time it won't be easy to catch one. It is likely that the cruise shuttle bus will drop you off at a parking area not far from the northern bus station in Mykonos Town. It is less than a 10-minute ride. From there everything is within walking distance.

If you are arriving at the old port, you will arrive within a 10-minute walk of the heart of Mykonos Town and no bus ride will be necessary or even available.

It is easy to explore Mykonos independently. There's no real need to book excursions. Also the recommended excursion to Delos can be booked independently (guided or unguided).

By plane
From May through October, charter airlines fly directly to Mykonos from many European airports:
 * TUIfly flies from Amsterdam (AMS);
 * Blue Panorama Airlines flies from Rome Fiumicino (FCO);
 * Borajet flies from Istanbul Sabiha-Gökçen (SAW);
 * EasyJet flies from London Gatwick (LGW), Geneva (GVA), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Paris Orly (ORY) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO);
 * Edelweiss Air flies from Geneva (GVA) and Zürich (ZRH);
 * Ryanair flies to Naples;
 * TUIfly Belgium flies from Brussels (BRU);
 * Thomson Airways flies from London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN);
 * Transavia flies from Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris Orly (ORY);
 * Volotea flies from Venice (VCE), Palermo (PMO), Napoli (NAP) and Bari (BRI);
 * Vueling flies from Barcelona (BCN) and Madrid (MAD).

At the arrival area of the airport you may find an ATM, shops, a cafeteria, public phones, a post box, an office of the Mykonos Hoteliers Association, an Olympic Air office, an Aegean Airlines office and many car rental companies.

In the terminal building on the first floor there is a duty-free shop for departing passengers selling tobacco, spirits, perfumes, cosmetics, travel accessories and gift items.

Take a free and useful Mykonos Sky Map from the luggage collecting hall at the airport. This free map is also sold in shops in Mykonos Town.

From the airport to Mykonos Town
Many Mykonos hotels offer airport transfers, at rates that can be anything from free to more than a taxi. Best chance for a free transfer is when you book your room directly with the hotel. A transfer by your hotel is the easiest way to get to your hotel, so check with your hotel before arrival.

Taxis are usually waiting at the airport, at the taxi rank opposite the terminal building, but competition for them can be keen. If there is no taxi waiting you can see the sign with the phone numbers of the taxi radio office so you may call. A taxi from Mykonos airport to town costs about €8, a few euros more if you are carrying luggage.

Buses from and to the airport are frequent from the southern bus terminal, Fabrika, in Mykonos Town.

You can also walk from the airport into town, it's about 2.5km and most of the time there is a pavement to safely walk on. It's mostly uphill going towards the airport.

Get around
With a length of 12 to 15 km and a width of 10 km, Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Cyclades islands. On Mykonos you can get around by bus, taxi, car, scooter, ATV or boat.

By bus
There is a bus network that takes you around the island. There are two bus stations in Mykonos Town, each on different sides of Mykonos Town. From the main southern bus station, Fabrica, buses can be taken for departures to Platys Gialos (every half hour), Paraga (every hour), Paradise (every half hour), Ornos and Agios Ioannis. There are also night buses from Mykonos to Platys Gialos and Paradise leaving every hour. From the northern bus station which is not very far from the old port ferry quay, buses can be taken for departures to Ano Mera, Elia (departing at 11AM, noon, 2PM, 4PM, 6PM and 7PM, returning 30 minutes later) and Kalafatis. Departure times are clearly marked at the two bus stations and the end of the bus routes. Bus schedules change a bit about every two weeks. Frequencies of buses are higher in high season.

There is no bus connection between the two bus stations. From one bus station to the other will take about 20 minutes of walking through the streets of Mykonos Town.

It is possible to buy your bus ticket from the bus driver (have exact change ready), but you can also buy your bus tickets before boarding the bus. Bus tickets can be bought in advance from a bus ticket vending machine (euro coins necessary) and can be purchased at kiosks, mini-markets and tourist shops as well. There are no return tickets available; for a return trip you simply need two single tickets. Hand over your ticket to the bus driver and he will "validate" it by simply tearing your ticket. There are ticket stamping machines in the bus, but they simply don't function. Don't be surprised if a man that is already on the bus near the bus driver will check your "validated" ticket a few minutes later. Even though your ticket is just teared and not stamped, he will inspect your ticket thoroughly, looking for counterfeited tickets. Bus tickets are €1.60, except for the further destinations of Elia and Kalafatis which cost €1.70. Tickets for night buses are €2. Buses in Mykonos are almost always full during the busy parts of the day; the bus driver will squeeze in as many passengers as he can.

By taxi
On the entire island there are only about 30 taxis, which means that depending on taxis for transport can be an exercise of great patience. In Mykonos Town the main location for taxis is in Manto Square (also called Town Square or Taxi Square), on the harbour front near the statue. You have to wait in line and sometimes you can wait for hours in the taxi queue. In the evening it can be very difficult to find a taxi. Taxis do not use meters, but there's a notice board giving rates for each destination. Fares are quite reasonable. Calling for a radio taxi costs €1.30 extra, and an appointment €5 in addition to the fare. Contact telephone numbers are 22400 and 23700.

By boat
Various boat services provide a good and fun way of getting to the southern beaches of Mykonos. Price for a return ticket is €5 for Paranga and Paradise, €6 for Super Paradise and €7 for Agrari and Elia. Boat services can be cancelled due to strong wind, but with the exception of Super Paradise all of these beaches can be reached by bus from Mykonos Town as well.
 * From Platys Gialos small fishing boats converted into tourist transport leave every hour or less to the beaches of Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. First departure 10:15 until 16:15 every hour. Last return to Platys Gialos from Elia at 18:00 and from Super Paradise at 20:00.
 * From Ornos boats leave for the beaches of Platys Gialos, Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. Boats leaves from Ornos at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00.

From June to September there are also infrequently boats leaving from the harbour in Mykonos Town to Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia.

By car or by motorbike
Mykonos has an extensive public transport system from Mykonos Town. By public transport it is easy to get to all the southern beaches, which happen to be the nicest beaches as well. Renting a motorbike or a car is the way to go if you want to explore the rest of the island, especially the more remote beaches at the north coast. Motorbike and car rentals are readily available around the island. In Mykonos Town the highest concentration of rent a car - motorbike agencies is in and around the area of the southern busstation, where you will find a wide range of choices. The other area of Mykonos Town with rent a car - motorbike agencies is near to the old port, behind the Archaeological Museum.

Cars are not permitted in the town of Mykonos. There are parking areas on the outskirts of town, but during peak season finding a parking space is usually a challenge. You can always try the huge public parking area next to the old port. Considering Mykonos is a very small island, renting a bike might be a better choice, unless you are planning to stay far out of town and from beaches. Bikes are cheap to rent, you can park them almost anywhere, and it is cooler than a car standing in the hot sun all day.

Attractions in Mykonos Town

 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.
 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.
 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.
 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.

Museums
All museums are open from April to October, except the Archaeological Museum which is open year-round. Most people keep the museums for a rainy day, but the Archaeological Museum is worth a visit.

Beaches
Most of the beaches have tavernas and restaurants and are well equipped with deck chairs and parasols. Most common price is €12 for a set of two deck chairs and an umbrella. The best beaches are on the south side of the island and sheltered from the prevailing northern wind. On the more popular beaches, it is not uncommon for people to walk down the beach selling probably illegal goods such as DVDs, fake bags, clothes, jewellery and watches. They come right up to you and it can be somewhat annoying but they are easily pushed away with a simple 'No, thank you'. Also, many beaches, even the more family-orientated, are often populated with the 'European' style of sunbathing - i.e. topless.

Do

 * Delos, a small uninhabited island close to Mykonos, is a UNESCO world heritage area known for its important archaeological sites. There are daily excursions from Mykonos Town except Monday, when the archaeological site is closed. Boats leave at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00 from the pier at the west side of the harbour, right behind the little church of Agios Nikolaos. The boat trip takes about 30 minutes. Boats return at 12:15, 13:30 and 15:00. Boat trips to Delos are also organized from Platys Gialos and Paranga Beach. The excavations are open from 08:30 to 15:00, so have an early start if you really want to see it all. The cost is €17 for the boat trip plus €5 for entrance (though free for students and €3 for those over 65). A guided tour, departing at 10:00 from the pier in Mykonos, will cost €40 (including boat trip and entrance fee). Delos is a must for all visitors.
 * From Platys Gialos you can take a cruise on a GlassBottom Discover Boat, a boat with a glass floor at the bottom through which you can view underwater life. There are beach-to-beach cruises (€35), sunset cruises (€25) and cruises to Delos and Rhenia (€35).
 * Check the ferry schedules well, but it is possible to make daytrips to the islands of Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos.

Buy
You can go shopping or window shopping in the fabulous little boutiques which carry exclusive name brands, among them outstanding Greek jewelers, souvenirs as well as works of art. Bring money and credit cards. Most shops are open seven days a week, but will be closed from 14:00 to 17:00. Many tourist shops will remain open late into the evening. In case you are looking for department stores, as some cruise tourists do, there aren't any.

Mykonos is home to a large artists' colony, so there are a number of fine galleries offering original works.

Of course, you will also find the shops you need to fill all your basic needs and comforts. There are mini-markets, green grocers, butchers, kiosks, bakeries, liquor stores, a few small supermarkets (and bigger supermarkets out of town), many pharmacies, a dry goods shop, bookstores, photo and electronics shops.

ATM's are available throughout town. There's a concentration of ATM's near the southern bus station.

Eat
In Mykonos Town you will find most of the restaurants and eateries. All over town there are various gyros and souvlaki shops and creperies where you can eat quite well for just a few euros. Mykonos offers dining options catering to a range of tastes and budgets. You can have good Greek food at reasonable prices, but it also easy to spend a fortune. Almost all restaurants (and many bars) post their prices on menus at the entrance, so as you walk around you can take a look to see which places offer appealing food in your budget range. Restaurants facing the harbour or the sea (especially in Little Venice) tend to have significantly higher prices, because you are also paying for the location and the view. Restaurants in the streets deeper in the heart of town tend to be more reasonably priced.

Ano Mera
The town square offers several traditional restaurants.

Drink
Mykonos is famous for its intense nightlife as evidenced by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. Drinking can be quite expensive in Mykonos.

Nightclubs
Although Mykonos's nightlife focuses mainly on bars, there are a number of notable dance clubs to be found on the island, some of them attracting world-famous DJs.

Sleep
Mykonos has a well developed tourist infrastructure with countless hotels, studios, apartments and rooms for rent. Accommodation can be found in and around Mykonos Town and nearby the beaches. Compared to other Greek islands accommodation in Mykonos is expensive. The price of accommodation varies greatly according to season. Mentioned from-prices are for low season. Expect prices to double in high season. Mykonos becomes overcrowded from mid July to the end of August, so be sure you have a room waiting if you go during that period. Every year a lot of Greek tourist visit Mykonos around the weekend of Pentecost (usually late May or early June).

Most of the hotels will close at the end of October and will open again at the end of April or the beginning of May.

A lot of the locals rent rooms and they will be waiting for you when you arrive at the port or the airport, waving pictures of their rooms. They will be there in peak season as well. Most of them are from small establishments that aren't listed on the internet. If approached to let a room, make sure you don't end up in an isolated apartment up on the hills around the town. Outside high season it is also easy enough to look around in Mykonos Town for yourself. There are 'rooms' signs everywhere. Wandering around with a suitcase or backpack you will be approached.

Camping
For the young and most budget conscious travelers, there are two campgrounds, both at popular beaches:

Both are reachable by public bus from Mykonos Town or by boat from Platys Gialos. Both offer shuttle bus transportation to and from the airport and ferry boat ports.

Telephone
Truly the cheapest way to call abroad is to use a pre-paid calling card and call from a land line anywhere (also from your hotel room). Pre-paid calling cards are sold in many shops and kiosks in Mykonos Town. The calling card is not much more than a phone number and a PIN code, which you dial prior to dialling the usual phone number. If you want to call internationally, ask for an international calling card. For €1 you can call for about 45 minutes, so buy a card in the cheapest value (which is about €3). Calling someone for half an hour is cheaper than sending one email from an Internet café. Cards expire usually 90 days after first use. You can use this pre-paid calling card also at public phone boxes, which are widely available in Mykonos Town, though there are a lot of broken phone boxes as well.

Stay safe
Mykonos is generally a safe island, with the only problem of dangerous and drunk driving. Be aware in case you want to rent a motorbike or quadbike, because its roads are sometimes narrow with sudden twists that need driving experience and extra care.

Go next
Return to Athens or move on by boat to Paros, Naxos, Ios or Santorini.

The nearby islands of Syros and Paros can be used as transport hubs to other Greek Islands.

Day trips are possible to Delos and Tinos.

title: Mykonos


text:
Mylo

Mylo is a small town in the Turtle Mountains region of the north central part of North Dakota.

Go next

 * Rolette, a village of 600 people, is 12 miles west on ND 66-W.

title: Mylo


text:
Mymensingh

Mymensingh is a city in Bangladesh with renowned educational institutes, Brahmaputra River, and the beauty of green paddy fields.

Understand
Mymensingh (pronounced moy-mon-shing-haw) is situated on the river Brahmaputra and is the headquarters of the Mymensingh District. Mymensingh is the anglicized pronunciation of the original name Momenshahi, referring to a ruler called Momen Shah. The cadet college established in Tangail in 1963 was called Momenshahi Cadet College. The city is known for educational institutions like Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh Medical College and Mymensingh Girls' Cadet College. Other landmark institutions include the Mymensingh Army Cantonment. Also it is known for a handcrafted duvet called Nakshikantha and a rural ballad called Moimonsingho Geetika. Mymensingh city is located about 120 km (75 mi) north of the capital Dhaka.

By plane
There is no airport in Mymensingh. The nearest major international airport is Dhaka, approximately 110 km to the south. It's about a 2.5 hour drive and there are plenty of buses plying the route. Additionally, there are several direct trains from the airport to Mymensingh.

By bus
There are several bus services from Dhaka to Mymensingh. Buses leave from the Mohakhali bus stand (10 km south of Dhaka Airport) in Dhaka to the Mashkanda bus stand in Mymensingh. You can get on any of the following buses from the Mohakhali bus stand in Dhaka, which will cost around Tk. 150 ($2):
 * Shoukhin
 * Nirapad
 * Deluxe
 * Ena

By train
There are several train services from Dhaka to Mymensingh. It takes almost 3 hours to reach Mymensingh from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. You can get on from the Dhaka Airport or you could go to the main train station-Komlapur Rail Station.

See

There are many picnic spots and sites of cultural, natural and historical interest in and around Mymensingh. Most important sites around in the greater Mymensingh area are:
 * Gajani (গজনী) - several picnic spots and adventure park.
 * Jalchhatra (জলছত্র) - place of historical and cultural interest.
 * Birisiri (বিরিশিরি) - site of immense natural beauty with blue river and hills.
 * Crocodile farm - situated at Trishal.
 * Susong Durgapur and Bijoypur (সুসং দুর্গাপুর ও বিজয়পুর) - Blue river and mountains.
 * Orchid garden - situated at Fulbaria
 * Strawberry garden - at Fulbaria
 * Bangladesh Agricultural University (বাংলাদেশ কৃষি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) - in Mymensingh town.

There are three major parks in Mymensingh which are located in the Mymensingh town and in Agricultural University. All there park are on the bank of Brahmaputra river. These parks are located in: Circuit House, near Boro Bazaar, and in Agricultural University that is just at periphery of the town.

Do
There are several places of interest in Mymensingh city where you can visit:
 * Jainul Abedin Museum (জয়নুল আবেদীন সংগ্রহশালা) - collection and exhibition of paintings of Jainul Abedin, the all time greatest Bengal painter.
 * Mymensingh Museum (ময়মনসিংহ জাদুঘর) - collection of historical items.
 * Mymensingh park - by the river Brahmaputra
 * Botanical Garden - Bangladesh Agricultural University
 * Ananda Mohan University College
 * Teacher's Training College - An ancient and famous buildings used by British Lords

Eat
There are many good restaurants in this city, including:

 * Sorogoram in Charpara
 * Foodland in Charpara
 * Sharon in Mashkanda
 * Sharinda in Ganginarpar and the park

In all of them, you can eat Biriyani, Polau (fried rice), Bhaat (rice), Shobjee (vegetables) and Khichuri, as well as Continental food.

Connect

 * 24 hour internet available in the lobby of the Hotel Hera.
 * Several cyber cafes can be found in the Ganginar Par area. Cafes charge around Tk. 30 (~$0.37) per hour.

title: Mymensingh


text:
Myoko

Myōkō (妙高) is a city in Niigata prefecture, in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand
Myōkōkōgen merged with Arai City and Myōkō Village in 2005 to form the city of Myōkō.

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

By plane
The nearest airports are:

Niigata - 2 hours 15 mins by car. By public transport, take a bus to Niigata station (25 min, ¥410), then take the train (details below).

Toyama - 2 hours by car. Buses connect the airport to Toyama station (25 min, ¥410).

Matsumoto (Domestic flights only) - 1 hour 45 mins by car. Buses connect the airport to Matsumoto Bus Terminal (30 min, ¥600), which is just across the street from the East Exit of Matsumoto station.

Of course, many visitors will prefer to fly into Tokyo, or perhaps Nagoya-Centrair. If you are flying into Narita, you may be interested in the overnight bus between Narita and Nagano station, which is operated jointly by Narita Airport Transport and Alpico Kotsu and costs up to ¥6900 (cheaper outside peak periods). Changing at Nagano to the Kita-Shinano Line, you will reach Myōkō-Kōgen at 08:30.

By train
Until 2015, Myōkō was on the JR Shin'etsu Line. That year, the Shinkansen was extended from Nagano to Kanazawa, and services on the line are now run by the Shinano Railway and the Echigo Tokimeki Railway. The dividing point between the two is at Myōkō-Kōgen station, which is closest to the prefectural border.

Neither of these lines are part of the JR network, and therefore they are not valid with the Japan Rail Pass. The Rail Pass will get you as far as Nagano, Jōetsu-Myōkō, or Naoetsu; these stations are 45, 35, and 60 minutes from Myōkō-Kōgen respectively, and you will have to pay ¥830, ¥500, and ¥670 respectively to reach Myōkō-Kōgen. These prices are included in the totals listed below.
 * From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano, then change there to the Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line to Myōkō-Kōgen (about 2 hrs 30 min, ¥8830 total). If you go via Jōetsu-Myōkō, the trains are less frequent and it will take longer, but if you have a Japan Rail Pass you will save ¥330.
 * From Nagoya, take the Limited Express Shinano to Nagano, then the Kita-Shinano Line (about 3 hrs 45 min, ¥7960 total).
 * This train stops at Matsumoto (from which it is about 2 hours and ¥3470 total), but from there you can also take a Shinonoi Line Local train to Nagano, which adds about 30 min but saves ¥1500.
 * From Osaka, there are two options:
 * Take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya, then the Shinano to Nagano, then the Kita-Shinano Line (about 5 hours, ¥12,530 total)
 * Take the Thunderbird to Kanazawa, change there to the Hakutaka on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Jōetsu-Myōkō, then change there to the Echigo Tokimeki Railway (about 5 hrs 45 min, ¥11,780 total)
 * If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you will probably prefer the second option. However, if you are coming from the Chūgoku or Kyūshū regions, and wish to save yourself a change of train in Osaka, it may be worth paying up to ¥18,400 for a Nozomi train which will take you to Nagoya.
 * From Kanazawa and Toyama, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka service to Jōetsu-Myōkō, then the Echigo Tokimeki Line (2 hrs 45 mins and ¥6430 total from Kanazawa, 2 hrs 15 min and ¥5350 total from Toyama).
 * From Niigata, there are five Limited Express Shirayuki round-trips a day; these all run onto the Echigo Tokimeki Line, but stop short of Myōkō-Kōgen, at either Jōetsu-Myōkō or Arai. Travel to Myōkō-Kōgen should take 3 hrs 30 mins and cost ¥5090; the price and time is similar if you instead take the Shinkansen to Nagaoka and a local train from there to Naoetsu. Japan Rail Pass holders must pay ¥530 if they use the Shirayuki from Naoetsu to Arai.

By bus
No highway buses serve Myōkō. The nearest places served by highway buses are Nagano station, Takada station (for buses to Niigata and Tokyo), and Kida Bus Stop on the Hokuriku Expressway (which is 10 minutes walk from Kasugayama station on the Echigo Tokimeki Line).

See

 * Myōkō Sunshine Land. Usually open 09:00-17:00, and closed Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is actually just over the city border in Jōetsu; the nearest rail station is Sekiyama on the Echigo-Tokimeki Line, which is about 4km away. An all-purpose leisure land set in the grand natural surroundings. The park includes activities that both children and adults can enjoy, from the thrilling roller coaster to the 55 meter tall ferries wheel.

Do
Myōkō Kōgen gets about 13m of snowfall annually, making it an ideal spot for the avid skier and snowboarder. There are three major ski resorts surrounding the massive Mount Myōkō. Myōkō Kōgen is also one of the oldest ski resorts in Japan, with some hotels and onsens dating back to the 1930s.

Go next

 * Joetsu
 * Itoigawa
 * Shinano
 * Iizuna
 * Iiyama
 * Nagano
 * Otari
 * Hakuba
 * Tokamachi

title: Myoko


text:
Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is a major tourist destination and the central focus of the Grand Strand coast of South Carolina. It is widely known for its wide beaches, numerous golf courses, seafood restaurants, and outlet-style shopping, as well as one of the highest concentrations of miniature golf courses you'll find anywhere. A popular spring break destination, Myrtle Beach is heavily developed and crowded, in contrast to other Southern beaches, such as the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and attracts a lot of tourists from other Southern states or "Snowbirds" from the North, who may own a condominium or timeshare along the coast.

By car
Myrtle Beach sits at the intersection of US 17, which runs along the coast of the Carolinas, and US 501, which travels inland. From Interstate 95 South, take US 501 south for 66 miles.

By train
There is no direct rail service to Myrtle Beach. The closest passenger stations are in Dillon, North Charleston, Florence and Kingstree, which are served by Amtrak's Silver Service and Palmetto trains.

Florence, SC is the closest station but it is about 70 miles away from Myrtle Beach, so the best option is to arrange a limousine, or a shuttle or bus service for the final hour or two ride to the beach.

By car
One aspect of Myrtle Beach that is less-than hospitable are its roads. A tourist may find the style of driving in Myrtle Beach to be aggressive, reckless and hard to manage. Myrtle Beach has one of the highest accident rates in the state, due in part to its impatient drivers and oddly-placed roads.

If you must drive, plan ahead - if you are going a short distance (under five miles), then take one of the main roads that runs adjacent to the beach. If you are going a longer distance, try and take one of the interstate roads that branches further out - these are generally clear of traffic, and thus are much more bearable than the city roads.

There are several car rental companies located in Myrtle Beach, including Alamo Rent-a-Car, National Car Rental, Avis Rent-a-Car, and Budget Car Rental.

By bus
Coast RTA is the bus system for the Myrtle Beach area. Routes run along major thoroughfares and to and from neighboring towns. Service hours are quite limited. Schedules are available at all Myrtle Beach Area Conventions and Visitors Bureau offices. Fares are $1.50 adults, $1.25 students, $0.75 children.

Another alternative for those without cars are charter buses. Coach buses are cost-effective for large groups of people who want to relax and enjoy personal service, and travel locally as well as out of state. Reservations for charter buses are best made a few weeks in advance and prices are determined by the location of the destination.

By taxi
There are several private cab services in the area which can run up to $50 for a trip across the Grand Strand. The rate is $2.80 a mile $1 for extra passenger, rates are set by the City of Myrtle Beach.

Serving all of the Myrtle Beach area is Yellow Cab Taxi, +1 843 420-1200, and Myrtle Beach Discount Cab +1 843 450-6233.

The North Strand is served by Absolute Taxi, +1 843 333-3333, Yellow Cab of North Myrtle Beach, +1 843 420-1200 and North Myrtle Beach Taxi Cab, +1 843 421-3662.

Taxi companies in the South End are Yellow Checker Cab Taxi, +1 843 606-1000.

See

 * The namesake of Myrtle Beach is, of course, the beach. During the high season the beach can be crowded and parking scarce. Staying at a beachfront hotel or within walking distance can make for a more pleasant visit. For those on a budget, however, don't fret - the beach is still public, although you may have to fight for a spot during the day. Never underestimate the beauty of the shoreline at sunrise, when the sands are basically abandoned, the temperature modest, and the seashells from the night before have yet to be picked.

Do

 * - located in Myrtle Beach
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * - located in Myrtle Beach
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.
 * Throughout the year, there are tons of festivals and events, celebrations, and special events like parades. Festivals of note include the Sun Fun Festival, the Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, and the Canadian-American Days Festival.

Golf
One of the main reasons many people come to Myrtle Beach is the many golf courses in the area, of which there are so many that Myrtle Beach can rightfully be (and has been) called the golf capital of the world. Most of the courses in Myrtle Beach are available to be played as part of a package deal with other courses, lodging, and meals. It is usually much less expensive to play, eat and stay in Myrtle Beach if you take advantage of this option.

Myrtle Beach is not only known for its world-class golf courses, but also for its numerous miniature golf courses. There are over 60 miniature golf courses in Myrtle Beach and many of them feature the latest designs and technology in the mini-golf industry.

Buy

Kings Highway, the main road through town, is lined with many discount beachwear stores. Be warned though: the prices they advertise on the signs out front are often flat-out false. As it turns out, there's an awful lot of leeway when it comes to the "Nothing Over $5.99" signs you'll see driving through town.

Go next
Several smaller towns to the north and south (Briarcliffe, Atlantic Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, and Garden City) in addition to Myrtle Beach make up what is known as the "Grand Strand".

 * If you're looking to get away from the crowds of Myrtle Beach, you can't do much better than the undeveloped beaches of Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, a nature lover's paradise with a pristine stretch of shoreline and a large salt marsh home to alligators and many kinds of birds.

title: Myrtle Beach


text:
Myrtle Point

Myrtle Point is said to be one of the best-preserved small towns in Southern Oregon. The town is at the southern end of the Coquille River Valley, about 25 miles inland from the city of Bandon along the Oregon coast. The historic downtown is accompanied by many traditional homes, with some being in mint condition and others in the process of renovation.

Get in
Myrtle Point is a part of Coos County and is located along the Coquille River. You will be able to find it by traveling southwest from Roseburg or east from Coos Bay on Highway 42.

Get around
Highway 42 runs right through the heart of Myrtle Point. It is accessible from either direction: east or west. The main mode of transportation is by car. However, there is an occasional horseback traveler.

See
Myrtle Point's Logging Museum is one of the main attractions the town has to offer. It is full of all kinds of equipment and artifacts that were used in the old days of logging. The other main attraction in Myrtle Point is the annually held Coos County Fair and Rodeo. Events at the fair include the youth livestock auction, numerous games and rides for kids, the downtown parade, and most of all the rodeo, which offers a real country feel. One other spotlight of the city is its myrtlewood groves. Some of the largest myrtle trees can be viewed from within the city limits. A walking tree tour is available that highlights the wide variety of trees that grow in the area.

Do
As for recreation, the town has 4 parks that include basketball courts, softball field, tennis courts, along with your different types of playground equipment, such as swings and slides, for all people to enjoy. One of the parks downtown also has a skate park that is very popular for kids who enjoy skateboarding.

Go next
Head to the coast for a nice day at the beach. Only a half-hour away!

Explore out of town in to the country and look at all of the ranches and beautiful landscape.

title: Myrtle Point


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Mysen

Mysen is a town in Østfold county in Norway.

title: Mysen


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My Son

My Son (Vietnamese: Mỹ Sơn) is a set of ruins from the ancient Cham Empire in the central coast of Vietnam. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
My Son was built by the Champas who ruled Central Vietnam from c.200-c.1700 CE until annexed by the Vietnamese in the 19th century. Influenced by Hinduism, the Champas built temple complexes in Central Vietnam. The best-known and preserved temple still in daily use by Buddhists is the Po Nagar Cham Tower in Nha Trang. The temples of My Son were the most important temples of the Champa Kingdom. Bricks were used to build the temples, without mortar, and sculptures of gods, priests, animals, and scenes of mythical battles and devotion adorned the walls. These temples were places of worship of Lord Vishnu.

After the fall of the Champa, the jungle began to reclaim the area. The temples had already fallen into disrepair by the 1960s, when the Viet Cong used My Son as a base. An act of the U.S. Congress prohibited bombing of My Son during the war, but nevertheless the site suffered devastating bombing raids by the United States Air Force

My Son was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. There are travel guides that compare My Son with Angkor, Bagan and Borobudur. Historically, they have a point: in their time, these complexes were leading spiritual centres, and they have all fallen into a state of ruin. However, the ruins at My Son are far less impressive than any of the other sites, for various reasons: the smaller scale of the original site, for example, the comparatively poor upkeep and the severe damage to the buildings from time and war. Even so, this is a unique and important historical site, and the gorgeous jungle scenery alone may be worth the trip.

The best time of the day to visit My Son is early in the morning or late in the afternoon when there are few tourists.

Get in
My Son, being a UNESCO site, has a flat admission charge of 150,000 dong per person (December 2022), payable at the ticket office near the entrance, and applies regardless of how you get there.

To travel 43 km from Hoi An to My Son you have several options:
 * Take a motorbike taxi. A round-trip on a motorbike taxi from the centre of Hoi An should cost about USD 10.
 * Hire a motorbike and drive yourself. Motorbike hire should cost about USD 4-5 for the day, which gets you the bike and about enough fuel to reach the nearest filling station. As it is only a 43 km drive, you will need around 2 litres of petrol, which costs about 42,000 dong.
 * Directions: from Hoi An take Hung Vuong St and keep following it towards the town of Vinh Dien for about 7 km until you pass under a highway. Take the first left in the curve and go straight for about a km till you reach the T-junction on Rte 1 (or 1A), turn left towards the south. Drive for 7 km to Nam Phuoc. In the town, you'll see a big sign for My Son posted on a lamp post. Turn right there. From there, keep following the signs for 30 km until you reach the entrance for My Son. There is covered motorbike parking (10,000 dong) before the entry ticket purchase and check stations.

 * Car hire with driver. A car hire will cost USD 25 to 35 from Hoi An (2022) and about USD 70 from Da Nang. Both prices include return trips and the driver's waiting time, by My Son admission is extra.
 * Take a boat. The caveat being that the "My Son Boat Tour" goes no further than about 10 km north of Hoi An and stops at the Rte 1 bridge, which is still about 40 km from My Son.
 * Join a tour group. These leave Hoi An at 05:00 and 08:00. These are cheap, USD 3-5, not including the My Son entrance fee. The reason the tours are cheap is that they stop at restaurants and businesses allied with the tour operator. They are also inefficient. While the "tour" lasts about 6 hr, only about 1 hr of that will be at the site of the ruins. The rest will be spent waiting for others to join the tour or visiting dodgy businesses.

Get around
All vehicles will stop at a designated car park near the entrance and ticket office. After entering and crossing a bridge, you will find a designated station (that doubles up as a depot) where you can take an electric bus to the ruins free of charge; however for the sake of convenience, some electric bus drivers may drive onto the bridge itself to pick up passengers. The distance between the bridge and the site of the ruins is around 2 km, and while it's an easy uphill walk you might be better off taking the bus if you are pressed for time or if it is very hot.

You can explore the ruins by foot, with nothing more challenging than a slight hill to negotiate. Maps of the area tend to give the impression that the site is larger than it actually is. There are plenty of comfortable, rustic-looking benches along the way.

See & do

Near the ticket office there is a Champa Museum, describing many of the artifacts and the history of the site. The curators have made the odd (and maddening) decision to remove virtually all of the better-preserved sculptures from the ruins and display them here or at the small museum in Group A instead of in context with the temples where they belonged. Accordingly, try to visit the museum briefly before visiting the temples themselves. It closes a half-hour before everything else, so you might not be able to catch it on the way out.

The temples are in varying states of disrepair, with restoration still underway on some. There are nine "groups", labeled A-G. Effectively, there are three major sites: A, B-C-D, and E-F. The G, H and L ruins are separate and a little trickier to find. If you can't find them, don't spend all day trying; they're much smaller than the rest. All of the sites are connected by reasonably well-labelled walking tracks.

The layout of the temples is dictated by the rays of the sun and in the early morning this is clearly evident. The early morning sunlight shines behind the head of Lord Vishnu from where it is scattered throughout.

There are traditional dancing displays at 09:45 (daily except Mondays) for the benefit of tour groups. The stage is before you reach the first group of ruins, across from the souvenir shop.

 * If you enjoyed My Son and want to see a good example of a Champa Tower in the Hoi An area then go to the nearby village of Vinh Dinh and on the road north (alongside the Vu Gia river). You will find there a very well-preserved relic, the "Bang An Tower". This is hardly ever seen by tourists and is still in use by worshippers.
 * Just past Tra Kieu heading towards My Son on the left is the small but excellent Sa Huynh Museum which includes some artefacts from Cham (free of charge). Building shape is more Cham than Vietnamese. Many of the artefacts were donated by a Catholic priest who lived in Tra Kieu.
 * The streams running through My Son end up in a still lake about 3 km long which is ideal for kayaking. Hardly anyone knows about or uses this unspoiled gem. Karma Waters operates kayaking trips on My Son Lake.

Buy
There is a souvenir shop within the site. It sells generic Vietnam souvenirs and also a selection of items influenced by Champa culture.

Eat & drink
Numerous roadside cafes and restaurants line the road from Hoi An to My Son. Tour buses never stop at them because drivers, guides, and tour operators do not earn "commissions" at these places.

The first open-air restaurant on the left coming into My Son is owned by a local family. Mr Duong has lived in My Son since 1995, when My Son village was created by the Vietnamese Government and funded by Italy in anticipation of UNESCO WHS status. Duong provides good food, drinks, rest (hammocks), and parking. Prices a little high but reasonable for My Son.

Next door to Duong and about 100 m away from the My Son entrance is the Ganesa Restaurant, which sounds Indian but is a Vietnamese restaurant. Check out the high prices and low quality. Note some tour companies like Camel Open Tour, Anh Phu and others stop at this restaurant.

Sleep
There is no accommodation in My Son. The nearest hotel is about 2 km down the road from the ticket office. Most visitors visit My Son as a day-trip from Hoi An, Da Nang, or even Hue.

There are a few guest houses close by where accommodation may also be available.

Stay safe
Don't wander too far from the clearly-marked walking tracks between the sites. Although authorities say that the area has been cleared of unexploded ordnance, you're a long way from help in case of an accident.

Go next

 * Visit the Cham Islands for more adventure in Hoi An.
 * If your interest has been piqued, Da Nang has an acclaimed museum dedicated to Cham sculpture. It is open in the morning from 08:00 to 11:00 in the afternoon from 13:00 to 17:00.

title: My Son


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Mysore

Mysore, officially Mysuru, is the second-most populous city of the state of Karnataka after Bangalore. It was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, and is considered to be the cultural capital of Karnataka. Mysore is among the cleanest and best planned cities in India.

Understand
Mysore's recorded history dates back over a thousand years. Its name has a mythological origin. According to Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura was slain by the Goddess Chamundi at the place where present-day Mysore is located. A statue of Mahishasura stands on Chamundi Hill on the outskirts of the city.

In later times, the city rose to prominence when it became the capital of a breakaway vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire, ruled by the Wodeyar family in 1584. In 1610, the king Chamaraja Wodeyar shifted the capital to nearby Srirangapatna. Hyder Ali, who was a commander in the army, usurped power in the late 18th century. Hyder Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan, who fought and lost a war with the British, dying in battle in 1799.

The British restored the Wodeyars as their puppet rulers and shifted the capital back to Mysore. The Wodeyars had substantial internal autonomy and the Kingdom of Mysore (which comprised a large portion of present-day Karnataka) was one of the best administered in India. After independence, the kingdom was merged into the Indian Union and the capital of Mysore state was moved to nearby Bangalore where the British maintained their army. The name of the state too was eventually changed to "Karnataka" in 1973.

The dynasty is still well loved and the people of Mysore are still nostalgic for the grandeur of the earlier times. The palaces built by the Wodeyars and the annual celebrations of Dusshera are holdovers of that period.

Mysore has evolved from being a sleepy and quiet city to one that has become the most important in the state after Bangalore. The malls, apartment complexes, new and improved roads, supermarkets the advent of IT and BPO firms and a growing young and dynamic workforce reflect the transformation of the city in the 21st century. The regal city is striking a balance between olden times and modernity, resulting in the city being both old and new.

By plane

The nearest international airport is in Bangalore, 185 km northeast.

By train
is the city's main station, and there are daily trains plying the route to Bangalore.

Mysore is well connected to Bangalore, with about 18 pairs of trains plying between them daily. Express Trains like 12007/08 Chennai Shatabdi, 16231/32 Mayiladuthurai Express (via Trichy), 16215/16 Chamundi Express, 16235/36 Tuticorin Express (via Madurai), 16021/22 Chennai Kaveri Express, 16591/92 Hampi Express, 16219/20 Tirupati Express, 16535/36 GolGumbaz Express (via Hubli, Bagalakot), 16557/58 Rajya Rani Express, 17307/08 Basava Express (via Kalaburagi, Solapur), 12613/14 Wodeyar Express, 16023/24 Malgudi Express, 17325/26 Vishwamanava Express (Hubli), 16227/28 Talaguppa Express  and 3 sets of passenger trains connect Bangalore to Mysore on a daily basis.

Apart from the above, 16209/10 Ajmer (via Kalyan Ahmedabad, Vadodara Biweekly express, 22817/18 Howrah (via Tirupati, Vijayawada, Bhubaneshwar Weekly Express, 12257/58 Bagmati Express (weekly)(via Chennai, Nagpur), 22681/82 Chennai Express (weekly), 16229/30 Varanasi (Via Guntakal, Daund, Itarsi)Express (bi-weekly), 16217/18 Shirdi Express (weekly), 12975/76 Jaipur Express (via Secunderabad, Nagpur, Bhopal) (bi-weekly), 16517/18/23/24 Karwar Express (tri-weekly) also connect via Bangalore to Mysore.

Mysore is connected to Mumbai through 11035/36 Sharavathi Express (weekly), Delhi through 12781/82 Swarna jayanthi Express (weekly), Shimoga by 16201/02 Intercity Express (daily) & Dharwad/Hubli by 17301/02  Express (daily) apart from few other passenger trains to Shimoga, 4 pairs of passengers to Chamrajnagara, and one passenger to Bangalore via Shravanabelagola.

Though 16021,16232,16236,16591 & 16535 are night-time trains, having Sleeper accommodation, day time AC chair car fare of ₹260 is levied on all these trains between Bangalore and Mysore, to attract more passengers to travel by train on this section in 3 tier AC class. Shatabdi fare between Bangalore and Mysore has also been fixed at a flat fare of ₹300 for the same reason

The fastest and possibly the most comfortable way to travel between Mysore and Chennai is by the Vande Bharat Express, which covers the Mysore–Bangalore leg of the journey in about 2 hours, and the Mysore–Chennai section in 6:30 hours. Although more expensive than other trains, all of the coaches are air-conditioned, and meals, snacks and a bottle of mineral water are included in the cost of the fare.

By bus
Buses run every 5 minutes from Bangalore. There is a choice of air-conditioned and ordinary vehicles constantly available, so finding a bus with seats is never a problem. The KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) buses are very comfortable, especially the Volvo (Luxury) buses, which mostly leave from Shantinagar bus stand or satellite bus terminus on Mysore road (₹350 or ₹300, respectively). Rajahamsa buses are non-AC and tickets cost about ₹200. KSRTC also runs Flybus (Volvo Air conditioned buses) between Bangalore International Airport and Mysore Bus stand. Buses run at an average frequency of 90 min from Airport round the clock and timings and reservation are available on https://ksrtc.in. These buses charge a fare of ₹800 between Bangalore Airport and Mysore.

By car
Mysore is approximately 140 km from Bengaluru. Newly inaugurated Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway makes the journey possible in 90 minutes. It doesn't allow two wheelers, bullock carts for which service road runs parallel most of the distance.

You don't really need to hire a car and driver while staying in Mysore, as all the tourist sites are walking distance or a cheap ride by rickshaw. Alternatively, if you feel the need to have a car and driver during your trip, it is very easy to arrange it once you arrive.

By bicycle
Suitable for fitness freaks only. It is around a 140km bike ride from Bangalore.

Get around
Getting around in Mysore is cheaper than most Indian cities.

By hitch-hiking
Hitch-hiking: Taking a lift, most of the locals (mainly 2 wheelers) are very helpful and generally stop to give a lift. Might be difficult on the main arterial roads because of the Traffic Police as helmets are compulsory for pillion riders as well.

By bus
City buses originate from City Bus Stand (refer to Get in Section) 2 km from the Railway Station. Frequent bus services are available to all major tourist and residential areas of the city. Bus stops and departure times are visible in Google Maps. Volvo air-conditioned buses are available to Chamundi Hills, KRS-Brindavan Garden, Zoo, Infosys, and the European Quarter (Gokula).

By car
Tourist cabs are your best option if you plan to tour the city all day or go to neighbouring towns like Srirangapatna. Costs about ₹9 or ₹10 per km. A day-long hire to cover the most popular points, ending with Brindavan Garden may cost ₹1200 to ₹1600 for a non-AC Indica type vehicle. App based cab services like Ola cabs and Uber are also available.

There are many car rental companies available.

By auto-rickshaw
Auto-rickshaws have meters, but drivers politely refuse to turn down the meters especially at railway stations, bus stations, etc. The more the driver suspects that you are a tourist judging based by your attire, looks and luggage, the less the chance that they will agree to use the meter. Price is ₹11 per km, with a minimum fare of ₹25. Try to insist on using the meter; threatening to call the police sometimes works when the rickshaw driver pretends that the meter is broken and wants a flat fee.

At the railway station or city bus stand, go straight to the prepaid auto-rickshaw counter and tell them your destination (you have to pay a rupee (₹1) for this service). They will give you a slip with the fare printed, along with the destination and auto rickshaw registration number. When you arrive at the destination you just pay what is printed on the slip.

You can always get the help of a traffic police officer to negotiate with the auto driver. They are really helpful.

By horse-drawn carriage
Horse-drawn carriages (known as a tanga) are a common sight and way of getting around the tourist hotspots in Mysore, especially the landmarks surrounding the palace.

Orientation
The different areas of Mysore are usually understood by the locals in the following way:
 * Mysore North: Gokulam, Hebbal, Metgully and Bangalore Road.
 * Mysore South: Mananthavady Road, Ooty Road, J.P.Nagar and Kuvempu Nagar.
 * Mysore East: Bannur Road, Siddhartha Nagar, T.Narasipura Road, Teresian College area, Zoo Garden, Karinji Lake and ATI.
 * Mysore West: Hunsur Road, Yelwala, Jayalakshmipuram, Bogadi Road and University area.
 * Mysore Central (downtown area): Yadavagiri, Railway Station Area, K.R.Circle, Palace area, Devaraj Market, Urs Road, Bus Stand area and JSS Hospital area.

See

Parks and gardens
Mysore has about 180 parks and playgrounds. Most of the residential areas have their own small parks: e.g. Ambedkar Park in Jayanagar has a 500-metre perimeter footpath. The newly built Andolan Circle Park has a walking track that takes five minutes for one round. This park is near Kuvempu Nagar. But many Mysoreans prefer to walk around the many lakes which pepper the landscape such as the central Kukarahalli Kere by the University where the journey around is about 4.5 km. Another is the Lingabudhi Kere, which has a beautiful footpath with bamboo forests and again takes more than 20 minutes for one round. This park is a desirable neighbourhood to the southwest called Rama Krishna Nagar, 5km away from the city centre.

Do

Learn
Mysore is a significant educational hub, the foundations for which were laid by King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV during his enlightened rule. Today, the city can boast of seven engineering and two medical colleges. The first engineering college established in Mysore was the National Institute of Engineering in 1946, the second oldest in Karnataka (after UVCE Bangalore). Formal medical education began in 1930 when the Mysore Medical College was transferred from Bangalore to Mysore.

Mysore is well known for its prowess in Sanskrit, the mother language of many Indian languages. The city is occasionally referred to as the Sanskrit capital of India. A Sanskrit daily newspaper called Sudharma is published from Mysore for a nominal price of ₹1.

Buy
Mysore is famous for silk sarees (Mysore Silk), sandalwood carvings and the many varieties of perfumed incense sticks. Mysore's marketplaces can be a good place to start, like Ashoka Road, Sayyaji Rao Road and from a mix of Western and Indian traditional shopping head to Devaraj Urs Road. To experience one of India's best markets head to Devaraja Market where tourists and locals alike shop for daily fruit and vegetables as well as the rows and rows of flowers and various spices. Devaraja market is on Dhanwanthri Road.

On the east row of the Devaraja Market, there is an oil shop with two brothers, Azam and Adil, who always pull in tourists for a nice conversation and maybe some chai. They have some good recommendations for food and things around the city so give them a visit. Their shop has a row of the watercolor powder, about 1/3rd from the north end.

Be warned, however. There are quite a lot of perfume sellers that sell inferior goods, don't be tempted by nice boxes and free gifts. As a rule, if it looks like a bargain, the perfume is poor quality. The real stuff is normally found further from the centre, but is mostly for export.

 * Agarbathis (Incense)
 * Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium, Sayaji Road - Sandalwood figurines and caskets
 * Chenapatna dolls and wooden toys
 * Traditional deck of playing cards

Eat
Mysore is known for the traditional sweet, the Mysore Pak. Mysore Pak is a sweet dish generally cut into rectangular pieces and is made out of gram (chickpea) flour, sugar (or jaggery) and lots of ghee. Sold all over the city although arguably the best Mysore Pak from Guru Sweets near the small clock tower.

South Indian breakfast favourites like idlis, sambars, masala dosas are widely available and quite good. It is not clear if the Mysore Masala Dosa (a fermented crepe made from rice batter, black lentils, potato, and onions) originated in Mysore, but you can try asking. You can find some of Karnataka's specialty dishes like:

 * Bisibele Baath - Made of rice and lentils with a lot of local spices. This is one of the most sought after dishes of Mysore. It is served hot and usually costs ₹25 in an average restaurant.
 * Idli Sambar - Different from Idli and Sambar. Since the idlis are put in a bowl with steaming sambar poured over them, the aroma and spicy effect is marvellous and costs less than ₹20.
 * Masala Poori - This is the most favourite food item of the Mysorean people. You can see young boys selling these 'chat' items on the sides of the pavement with all the ingredients beautifully arranged on wicker stools. For ₹15, you get crispy poories along with ten to twelve spices mixed in a hot 'pani' background. The whole thing is an experience to undergo. Some restaurants have separate 'chat' sections selling Pani Poori, Masala Poori, Bombay Chat and other varieties.
 * Raagi and Akki Rotis - They are similar to tortillas but made of raagi (English: coracan, finger Millet) or rice flour along with black cumin, asafoetida, fresh coriander, green chillies and finely chopped onions.
 * Raagi Mudde – A staple food in some of Kannadiga households in the Cauvery Basin. It is made by cooking raagi flour in water and later rolling it into thick consistency balls. Raagi Mudde is swallowed and not chewed after dipping into ghee and sambar.

Vegetarian restaurants

 * Kafe Mallige - Nageetha Complex, Vishwa Manava Double Road, Saraswathipurm
 * Little Woods- Opposite Jockey Quarters, Chamundhi Hill Road No 1. Little Woods is a vegetarian bistro a new restaurant that is set on the Chamundi Hill Road. Beautiful environs and a homely setting Has four seating options: rooftop, garden, road view and closed.
 * Kafe Mallige - Nageetha Complex, Vishwa Manava Double Road, Saraswathipurm
 * Little Woods- Opposite Jockey Quarters, Chamundhi Hill Road No 1. Little Woods is a vegetarian bistro a new restaurant that is set on the Chamundi Hill Road. Beautiful environs and a homely setting Has four seating options: rooftop, garden, road view and closed.
 * Kafe Mallige - Nageetha Complex, Vishwa Manava Double Road, Saraswathipurm
 * Little Woods- Opposite Jockey Quarters, Chamundhi Hill Road No 1. Little Woods is a vegetarian bistro a new restaurant that is set on the Chamundi Hill Road. Beautiful environs and a homely setting Has four seating options: rooftop, garden, road view and closed.
 * Kafe Mallige - Nageetha Complex, Vishwa Manava Double Road, Saraswathipurm
 * Little Woods- Opposite Jockey Quarters, Chamundhi Hill Road No 1. Little Woods is a vegetarian bistro a new restaurant that is set on the Chamundi Hill Road. Beautiful environs and a homely setting Has four seating options: rooftop, garden, road view and closed.
 * Little Woods- Opposite Jockey Quarters, Chamundhi Hill Road No 1. Little Woods is a vegetarian bistro a new restaurant that is set on the Chamundi Hill Road. Beautiful environs and a homely setting Has four seating options: rooftop, garden, road view and closed.

Non-vegetarian restaurants

 *  City deli this small restaurant is on Kalidas Road near empire hotel. Coffee & sandwiches are also good.
 * Corner House in Vontikoppal is a nice place for ice creams
 * Edelweiss The Austrian Cafe parallel to Kalidasa Road, has great food at very affordable prices and authentic, heavenly cakes baked by an Austrian. The kitchen is open so you can see your food being cooked.
 * Hanumanthu Mess - Mandi Mohalla. A small place that specialises in a macro-style cooked mutton pulav and mutton chaps, available for early breakfast and lunch. Natti (Chicken) Pulav on Sunday morning only. Non-vegetarian.
 * Sixth Main is a restaurant and Coffee Shop parallel to Kalidasa Road. Popular with non-Indians. The ambience is quite relaxing.
 * Spices & Sauces - B.N. Road, Hardinge Circle. The best place to have some spicy non-vegetarian food. Even Mysore cuisine is worth trying.

Drink
Mysore is in Karnataka state where the liquor laws are among the most liberal in the subcontinent. Most international brands are readily available. The city is lined with bars and other restaurants serving liquor; there are around ten pubs in the city. Some of the recommended places include:

 * Dynasty Restaurant --Sri Harsha Road
 * Keg Pub, opposite the Suburb Bus Stand.
 * Lobo's, Kuvempunagar Double Road, opposite Bake Point, Saraswathipuram.
 * Opium Pub, Pai Vista, opposite to the Suburb Bus Stand.
 * Road Pub, Hotel Sandesh The Prince, Nazarbad
 * Lobo's, Kuvempunagar Double Road, opposite Bake Point, Saraswathipuram.
 * Opium Pub, Pai Vista, opposite to the Suburb Bus Stand.
 * Road Pub, Hotel Sandesh The Prince, Nazarbad
 * Road Pub, Hotel Sandesh The Prince, Nazarbad
 * Road Pub, Hotel Sandesh The Prince, Nazarbad

Night life
There is no night life in Mysore and no one understands the phrase 'night life'. Shops and restaurants down their shutters before 10PM. Restaurants do not open early in the morning, shops take three-hour lunch breaks, and even buses are few between 1PM and 4PM because the drivers and conductors are having their lunch. This laid back lifestyle can irritate people, although some can accept it within a few days.

Sleep
Budget conscious visitors are advised to stay near Jagamohan palace because the hotels are cheaper here and the city bus station is only 300 metres away. Taking a daily bus pass of ₹50 can save you hundreds of rupee worth waste on autorickshaws. Around 25 hotels are available in this locality all in the range of ₹400 to ₹600.

Connect

 * The area code for Mysore is 0821. If calling from outside India, dial +91 821 XXX XXXX
 * The General Post Office is near the railway station in a heritage building. There is an old man on the right side of the post office who can wrap parcels beautifully in cloth.
 * B.S.N.L. (Cellone) cellular or mobile network signals are widely available.

Stay safe
Mysore is regarded as a safe and peaceful city. However, if you plan to wander around during the night, it is suggested that you be watchful, as a few incidents of purse and chain snatching are reported every once in awhile. It is good idea to be alert if you are using an autorickshaw during when it is late, especially if you are alone. Also be careful when paying money to the autorickshaw drivers since they may tout non-locals, and can overcharge and decline using the meter at certain places and times. Note that hire taxi services are another option in Mysore.

The police in Mysore are helpful and friendly. Do not hesitate to request for assistance. You can reach the police control room by dialling 108 from a mobile phone or alternatively, 100 from a landline.

The people of Mysore are by and large peace-loving and hospitable. Mysore is one of the places in India where travellers can get around comfortably without worrying and not get bombarded by touts, which can happen in other parts of the country.

Cope

 * Laundry: There's a tiny stall opposite Arun Sweets and Bakery at the junction of Sangam Talkies Road and Ganapathi Temple Road, ₹20/₹30 per piece without/with ironing.

Go next

 * Bandipur National Park - A tiger reserve around 90 km south.
 * Bangalore - Karnataka's state capital, a shopper's paradise and cosmopolitan metropolis.
 * Bylakupee - One of the biggest Tibetan settlements outside of Tibet.
 * Coorg: A pleasant hill station with many resorts on hills, Talacauvery.
 * Somanathapura, marvelous architecture and stone sculptures.
 * Ooty - Major hill station, a little bit expensive.
 * Shivanasamudram - Twin waterfalls formed by the Kaveri River
 * Srirangapatna - Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.
 * Mangalore - A coastal city with many fine beaches on the shores of Arabian sea.

title: Mysore


text:
Mysore (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Mysore:

India

 * Mysore - A city in the Karnataka state of India.
 * Mysore (district) - A district of the Karnataka state of India that contains the city of Mysore.

title: Mysore (disambiguation)


text:
Mysore (district)

Mysore is a district in Karnataka State.

Cities

 * — the largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet
 * — tribal villages like Saragur are very scenic. Has many rivers and canals.
 * — tribal villages like Saragur are very scenic. Has many rivers and canals.

 * — Hunsur is a peaceful town ideal for picnics. Cheap hotels available.
 * — big dam and impressive garden with illumination and light-show in the night.
 * — big dam and impressive garden with illumination and light-show in the night.
 * — big dam and impressive garden with illumination and light-show in the night.
 * — big dam and impressive garden with illumination and light-show in the night.
 * — big dam and impressive garden with illumination and light-show in the night.

 * — little tribal town with beautiful riverside temple. Picture postcard villages ideal for picnics.

 * — REMOTE villages with kilometres long paddy fields without any buildings in sight.  Driving is a pleasure to the eyes with greenery on both sides without any eyesores, not even little farm houses. Not a single cattleshed to spot. Green, green all the way.

 * —Small town with basic facilities.

Other destinations

 * — noted for its stone sculptures
 * — riverside temple, bird sanctuary and ideal picnic spot. No restaurants or accommodation available.

Understand
Mysore city is very cosmopolitan but the villages in Mysore district have a unique Kannada ethnic charm. Mysore city looks urban and polished. In the villages people follow their traditional way of life in architecture, clothing and eating style. Instead of visiting many villages, spending one full day in a single village can be more productive to allow its beauty to 'sink in'.

Talk
Most people understand a little English in Mysore city. In other parts of the district, language can be an issue as only Kannada is understood. Educated people speak a little English and Hindi is not widely understood. In villages, finding a person to communicate can be difficult.

Get in
Trains and buses are available from many places, and the railway station is one of the best in India with good accommodation facilities.

Mysore Airport

Get around
Local buses are reliable and frequent, but are often crowded. Auto-rickshaws are expensive by Indian standards. Government rates may be not be acceptable to the driver and around ₹5 per kilometre the usual charge for tourists.

See

 * Mysore palace : Amba palace (Mysuru palace) located in Mysuru city is a  magnificent piece of architecture.There are also other palaces to see  like Jagamohan and Lalit mahal.

 * Namdroling Monastery, in Bylakupee, a large Nyingma monastery which contains the Golden Temple. In the Golden Temple there are three impressive statues of the Buddha.
 * Sera Jhe (also: Sera Jey) and Sera Mey monasteries. These monasteries are located in the same complex in Bylakupee, and with a combined population of almost 5,000 monks, it is one of the largest monastic communities of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet.

Itineraries
Chamundi Hills: About 15 km from Mysore, it is a hill station temple which has Goddess Chamundeswhari as deity. The Nandi - Shiva's mount in mythology - at Chamundi Hills is quite famous in its own right. It is the third largest in the country at 16 by 24 feet and was carved out of a single boulder about three-and-a-half centuries ago.

Eat
Restaurants usually offer only the south Indian food. North Indian food is available only in tourist areas, and European food only in upmarket hotels and resorts.

Drink
Coffee is preferred drink. Alcohol is widely available, and there is no stigma attached to drinking as some other parts of India.

Stay safe
Villages in Mysore district are safe to travel and people are very polite to strangers. Language can be an issue as only Kannada is understood. Educated people speak a little English and Hindi is not widely understood. In villages, finding a person to communicate can be difficult to find out.

Go next

 * Krishnarajanagara Paddy field paradise
 * Nagarahole National Park
 * Kodagu
 * Melukote
 * Bandipur National Park

title: Mysore (district)


text:
Mystic (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Mystic:

United States of America

 * Mystic - a town in the state of Connecticut.
 * Mystic-Eastern – a region of Connecticut.
 * Mystic (Iowa) - a town in the state of Iowa.

title: Mystic (disambiguation)