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Haikou

Haikou (海口 Hǎikǒu) is the provincial capital of Hainan Province in southern China and is at the north end of the Hainan Island. Haikou is a tropical coastal city that, as one of the least developed provincial capitals, has a somewhat laid-back atmosphere.

Understand
Its population consists mostly of immigrants from other provinces, and many development projects are in progress.

Many streets in Haikou are quite different during the day than in the evening. You will soon notice the abundance of coconut trees in Haikou. Most streets are lined with them. It is greener than most Chinese cities and has decent air quality.

The downtown does not have many tourist attractions and the water in its only beach area is murky but as a transport hub, it can serve a base for traveling to some cities on the north of Hainan.

Get in
Haikou is a transport hub with flights to many cities and boats to nearby mainland cities such as Beihai and Zhanjiang.

By plane

Haikou is the main hub of Hainan Airlines, which has domestic flights from many cities in Mainland China and from some international destinations such as Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, Singapore, London (via Changsha), Sydney, and Melbourne. In addition, Haikou is well-served by other Chinese airlines, particularly China Southern Airlines.

There are also international flights from Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines, Singapore on Scoot, Kuala Lumpur on Batik Air Malaysia, and Phnom Penh on Cambodia Angkor Air.

By train
From the mainland

There is a train link between Haikou and Guangdong province (the trains are loaded onto ferries to cross the strait). So you can get the train from Guangzhou to Haikou. Some of these trains actually finish in Sanya. There are scheduled services from Beijing West (via Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha and Guangzhou), Changchun (via Shenyang North, Tianjin, Nanchang and Guangzhou), Harbin West (via Changchun, Shenyang North, Nanchang and Guangzhou), Shanghai South (via Hangzhou South and Guangzhou) and Xinxiang (via Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha and Guilin North). These services use only regular-speed trains. The nearest high-speed train station on the mainland is in Zhanjiang, which is about 3 hours by high-speed train from Guangzhou. From the Zhanjiang HSR station, you can take either a train or a bus to Haikou. If you're coming from Southwest China, however, you may want to consider getting a high-speed train to Beihai, then taking a ferry to Haikou from there. Cities such as Chongqing, Guiyang, and Kunming all have high-speed train services to Beihai but not to Zhanjiang (though there are some slow trains to Zhanjiang from those cities).

From other parts of Hainan

A high-speed railway connects the major towns on the east and west coasts of Hainan. It takes 1½–2 hours from Sanya to Haikou. The trains also serve the airports in both Haikou and Sanya. Other stops on the line include Wenchang, Qionghai, Bo'ao, Wanning, Lingshui, Ledong, Dongfang, Baimajing, Lingao, Fushan and Laocheng.

Stations

Haikou has three major railway stations, including the airport station. There are also several minor stations, which are served only by suburban trains.

By bus
Buses connect Haikou to many cities on the Chinese mainland, including Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guilin, and Nanning. Most buses are overnight sleepers. Buses are loaded on to ferries and arrive in Haikou at either New Port or Xiuying Port. Here are a few examples of journey duration and price (as of July 2023):
 * From Guangzhou (7.5 to 12 hours) ¥190-210
 * From Guilin	(10 hours) ¥328
 * From Shenzhen (18 to 30 hours) ¥260-310

The city has three main bus stations:

Bus stations can also be found at the airport and the two ferry terminals.

By boat
There are frequent daily ferries between Haikou and Xuwen. The journey time and fare varies according to which ferry terminal you choose to depart from. A new ferry terminal opened at Xuwen Port (徐闻港) in October 2020. Ferries from Xuwen Port to Haikou's New Port take around 60 minutes. You can also still catch a ferry from Xuwen's old ferry terminal at Hai'an New Port (海安新港). Ferries from Hai'an New Port to Haikou's Xiuying Port take about 90 minutes. The fare for both ferries is ¥41.50. There are bus connections from Xuwen to other cities, but the options are limited compared to Haikou, especially in the evening.

There are daily Haikou-Beihai ferries, leaving Beihai at 17:00, taking around 12 hours and costing between ¥160-400 per person, depending on class (there are 5 different classes). For those of you traveling in China by bicycle, you can also take your bike on the ferry for an additional ¥20.

Travellers should bear in mind that it's quite common for ferries to be cancelled due to bad weather. This can occur both during the summer (due to storms and typhoons) and during the winter (due to heavy fog). If it happens during a major holiday period such as the Spring Festival, you can expect insane traffic jams and extremely large queues outside the ferry terminals when services finally resume. Hopefully the new ferry terminal in Xuwen will help to alleviate such problems in the future.

Get around
There are five main forms of public transportation in Haikou:
 * Taxi which is the most expensive option. They are easily hailed everywhere in the city. The meter starts at ¥10, but it is customary to bargain before you get on, and a typical fare for a shorter trip is ¥15. The taxi from the airport is half an hour to the city centre.  On arrival you will have a familiar experience in China of a number of drivers shouting taxi at you. These are illegal taxis, and you risk at least paying extra for your journey by taking these.  Instead, walk out of the terminal building and you will see a line of licensed taxis.  Before departing, insist on using the meter (dabiao) even if they are reluctant to do so.  It should cost ¥50-60 to the city centre.
 * Buses are very inexpensive, but you need to know the routes. If you choose to get the bus from the airport, show the address of your hotel to the attendant who will show you the bus that will take you closest. There is an airport shuttle that cost ¥15 per person from airport to Home Inn (formerly Civil Aviation Hotel) at Haixiu Avenue in downtown Haikou.
 * Commuter trains run in an east-west direction along Hainan's high-speed railway line. Stops include Haikou Railway Station, Changliu, Xiuying, Chengxi, Haikou East Railway Station and Haikou Meilan International Airport. Since there's only one line and not many stations on the route, these trains are mainly useful for getting to the airport and the two major railway stations. Ticket prices are between ¥2 and ¥10.
 * Motorbike taxis are mostly electric and you can get anywhere within the city for ¥5-10.
 * Additionally you may also rent a bicycle or an electric scooter. Haikou is very bike friendly, with wide side ways for both bikes and scooters. The riverside road 滨江路, for instance, is equipped with a beautiful car free biking and running path all along the river. Additionally, Haikou is also a major starting point for long-distance traveling on bicycles around the island of Hainan.

Historical sites

 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg
 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg
 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg
 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg
 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg
 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg
 * 五公祠 - Five Officials Temple - 2016.01 - panoramio.jpg

Eat
The tropical weather of Haikou has attracted the Chinese all over the country to move to this island, along with their specialty. While most tourists don't come to Haikou for food, an impressive choice of foods is a hidden gem. The cooking style is a fusion of Cantonese, Hokkienese and certain Southeast Asian elements and seafood is impressive.

Prices have surged as the tourism industry is booming. However, prices are still generally lower than many other Chinese cities if you can avoid being overcharged. Compare to other places such as Sanya, Haikou is less touristy and a way cheaper to taste the local food.

Things to eat

 * Chao Bing (炒冰 chǎobīng) Literally 'stir-fried ice' in Chinese, it is a fresh-made sorbet-like dessert. First select your fresh tropical fruits. The fruits are blended. A device that looks like a frying pan is used to freeze the juice in a minute. This process, due to its super chill temperature, yields a very fine ice crystal and make the sorbet so smooth. Perhaps try a combination of Mango and Passion Fruit. Costs just ¥5. Good Chao Bing vendors can be found on San Xi Lu, just off Renmin Dadao, on Haidian Island in the north of Haikou.
 * Betel nuts (檳榔 bīnglang) Illegal in some western countries, betel nuts are common in South East Asia and India. Chewed for their effects as a mildly euphoric stimulant, attributed to the presence of relatively high levels of psychoactive alkaloids. Spot the locals who chew betel nuts by their red teeth. Popular with bus drivers. Available on street corners for around ¥1. Shops also sell the dried variety. These are not as potent.

Areas to eat

 * Hainan University Night Market It is a busy night food market outside the Hainan University and caters for the wallet of undergraduates, which means food is cheap and reasonably priced. Common items include Chao Bing, Qingbuliang (various beans and jelly in iced coconut soup), BBQ. Operates until 23:00 or 00:00.
 * People's Bridge Night Market. On Haidian island connected by a bridge to the mainland, this area is 3 minute away from the Hainan University Night Market. It has a night market for cheap clothing and cheap food. In May 2011, you can have around 6-8 oysters (depending on their size) or 4 scallops for ¥10. Meat skewers start from ¥0.5 (mini sized one). ¥1 for grilled tofu and ¥3 for a grilled corn. Overcharging can often happen if you don't speak Chinese so compare the price first. Operates until 04:00.
 * Banqiao Road Local Restaurant Area This large covered outdoor restaurant area is a unique local experience. To begin with have a look around the integrated fresh food market and choose what you want. There is much to pick from; coconut rice to strange seafood to Cobra snakes. It’s all alive when you purchase so you know its fresh and half the fun is just looking at what’s available. Each set of tables has its own kitchen and the food is cooked however you want. Expect to pay ¥30-40 per person.
 * The area south of East Haixiu Road has a number of small streets with small local restaurants cooking the food out in the street and with tables both in and out. Expect to pay ¥20-30 per person.
 * Local street BBQ food (烧烤 shāokǎo) Popular with locals, these vendors come out in the evening and serve a variety of barbecued food. Choose what you want and take a seat while its cooked. Food is inexpensive and you can also buy cheap local beer. Locals eat, drink and play cards at these places until early morning. Many vendors can be found on Haidian Er East Rd (海甸二东路) on Haidian Island in the north of Haikou. Expect to pay ¥30-40 per person.

Drink
Haikou has a vibrant night life. The city has many clubs and bars, most of which are busy on any night of the week.

Night clubs
There are several clubs on Guomao Road in the business district of Haikou. There is a bar/club area at Haikou Bay, next to Evergreen Park.

Guo Mao District

Haikou Bay

Pubs and bars
Hai Dian Dao (Hai Dian Island)
 * Xuewu near Heping road on Haidiandao offers a decent outdoor environment and a pub style indoor area and night BBQ. The whole BBQ chickens are recommended by other travelers.
 * Heping Road on Haidian Island has many small outdoor places to drink inexpensive local beer.

Other

 * Drink a fresh coconut. Vendors will chop the top off the coconut and give you a straw to drink the juice inside. Costs ¥3-4. Available on most street corners. Some shops have cold coconuts in the fridge. Some people find the cold ones more refreshing.

Sleep

 * As in other Chinese cities you may check apps like ctrip for hotels in Haikou, see the pictures and visit the hotel to check the rooms in the spot.

Stay safe
Cars and motorbikes often do not signal, but otherwise are safe. At night, many vehicles use high beams.

Go next

 * Wenchang (文昌) is one of the provincial of Hainan Province in southern China and is located at the north-east coast of Hainan Island. Is the centre of Han settlement and the place where standard Hainanese is spoken. It is also one of the main sources of Hainanese migration overseas (Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand). It takes about 60 minutes by car from Haikou to Wenchang. A bus leaves from the East Bus Station (Haifu Rd.). It takes about 1 hour and costs ¥17/person. Buses leave 06:40-20:30 every 30 minutes. East Bus Station, Haifu dadao, opposite Wugongci (Wugong shrine). Telephone: 0898-65370453
 * Bo'ao (博鳌) is a small town on the east coast of Hainan Island, China. At the mouth of the Wanquan river Boao is best known for the annual Boao Forum for Asia. Because of this prestigious event the town is impeccably maintained year round with blooming planters and clean swept streets. It has a diverse selection of ethnic restaurants as well as one of the most well known seafood eateries on the island. Peaceful and quiet, Boao is the perfect place that combines international savvy with small town appeal. Dotted with ancient temples and surrounded by lush rice fields, Boao is the perfect beach getaway for those who want to avoid the crowds and high prices of Sanya. Take the bus from Haikou to QiongHai (¥35) then bus #2 to Boao.
 * Sanya, at the southern side of the island, is famous for its beaches and offers the best tourist facilities on the island. The bus journey to Sanya takes 3½ hours from Haikou and costs about ¥78. The high speed trains to Sanya are faster (2 hours), but a bit more expensive (around ¥100).
 * Central Mountains. You have not really seen Hainan if you do not visit the mountains. Largely undeveloped, very scenic.
 * There are sometimes tours to Vietnam and the Philippines, by boat out of Haikou. These are designed for Chinese rather than international tourists, so they tend to give good value for money but not Western comforts. Boats depart from Xiuying Port. As of December 2017, cruises were available to Halong Bay, Da Nang, and Nha Trang in Vietnam, and Manila and Laoag in the Philippines. Cruises are operated by Diamond Cruise (钻石国际邮轮公司).
 * Haikou is a major starting point to explore Hainan island by bicycle. Many travelers on bikes choose either track along the Western coast, the Eastern coast or the central island track, all leading to Hainan's southern city Sanya, or of course circle the island following the coast line.

title: Haikou


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Haiku

Haiku is an old plantation town on the island of Maui.

Understand
Haiku is a great little community which stretches several miles between Hookipa Beach Park, the world's top windsurfing location, & Jaw's, famous for it's 60 foot waves surfed only by tow-in and by the world's best.

The area sits at the edge of Maui's tropical rainforest, along the North Shore coastline and through portions of Maui's cooler upcountry region. Here you will find waterfalls with fresh swimming pools of clear blue water, beautiful daily rainbows, green rolling hills, unbelievable lush tropical landscapes, all surrounded by large ranches and yes even pineapple and sugar cane fields.

Haiku has much to offer those who are willing to take a trek off the beaten path, to find the Hawaii of old, since there are no resorts within miles. It's quiet, serene and peaceful. This truly is a journey, where you will lose your heart to Haiku and the island of Maui. Not only because of its beauty & picturesque landscape, or the fact that Haiku is really one of the remaining working plantation towns with historical buildings, or due to the wonderful outdoor activities like hiking wonderful trails with great bird watching or biking the volcano, but mainly due to the type of people who make Haiku their home.

Here visitors will find the "locals" are warm, welcoming and friendly with a mix of eco farmers, long-time local families, new age wellness, spiritual leaders, healers & artisans. Don't forget to stay at one of the area's bed and breakfasts, and oh my gosh the food vendors are a treat for the taste buds. Haiku is little known but has so much to offer visitors and locals alike, yet it's only minutes to all the main attractions Maui has to offer.

See
See Jaws, or go to Hookipa for a windsurf lesson.

Do
Haiku has a merchants association, and often there are local festivals or events. Eco-fest August 7th, Earth Day are two ongoing yearly events. You can reach them at 808-575-7500 for any info on current events and happenings. Often there are merchant coupons etc available.

Buy
Make a purchase at the Haiku Thrift shop and support the local foster children.

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

title: Haiku


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Hailar

Hailar (海拉尔 Hǎilā'ěr) is a city in Inner Mongolia Province in China.

Understand
The city was founded in 1734 as a Chinese garrison town, and has a population of around 200,000.

Hailar is a multi-ethnic town, with notable Han, Mongolian, Hui, Daur, Evenki, and Russian populations. As such, signs are usually bilingual.

Climate
Hailar has a dry, humid, humid summer, due to the East Asian monsoon. Winters are long, very dry and severe. Sunshine is abundant year-round. More than two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs during the three summer months, June-August.

By train
Hailar's railway station is the penultimate major station before Manzhouli, the port city that stands close to the Russian border. It is on the Western line of the Trans-Siberian express route. Trains to Harbin take about 12 hours, and 27 to Beijing.

By road
Via China National Highway 301.

Get around
Hailar has frequent buses that cover the town.

Do
Hulunbuir Grasslands, said to be the best one in mainland China.

Eat
Try local food: lamb, bef by the bones, 1 kg minimum. Restaurant name: Qi Jian Fang 七间房 : ¥28/500g

Drink
Home to the great Hailaer Beer.

Budget

 * Dong Fang Business Hotel (东方商务宾馆, 24 East two St Hailar district, Hulun Buir City (呼伦贝尔市海拉尔区东二道街24号). Clean, large room with computer: ¥120

title: Hailar


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Hailsham

The market town of Hailsham, in the Wealden district of East Sussex, used to be an agricultural centre. The population in 2011 was 20,476.

Understand
The largest of the five towns of the Wealden district of East Sussex, Hailsham is a small but growing town which serves as the local hub for some of the more rural parts of the county. Historically, Hailsham was a rope manufacturing town, and produced the hangman's rope for use in Britain and its colonies.

Get in
The town is regularly served by buses from Eastbourne and the nearest railway station at Polegate.

Get around
The town centre is compact, with most of the shops within a three-street 'triangle' of the High Street, George Street and North Street. Parking within the town centre is free. For attractions in Herstmonceux, there is an hourly bus service (Stagecoach Service 98). A car may be useful if you wish to travel further afield.

Should you wish to travel to one of the housing estates outside of the town centre, Cuckmere Community Buses provide a limited service during daylight hours.

Buy
Hailsham has a wide range of shops and is the centre for many of the surrounding villages. Visit the High Street and the precincts of Vicarage Field and The Quintins, which provide all of Hailsham's needs. As well as the usual chains (Tesco, Waitrose, Boots, Poundland, etc.), there are a lot of independent shops. On Saturday mornings a weekly market is held in Vicarage Field, with several stalls offering a variety of foods and crafts from local producers, and at the Cattle Market site, at the bottom of the High Street, there are monthly Farmers' Markets.

This part of East Sussex is also well known for 'car boot' sales, where sellers get together, usually outside in a field, to sell secondhand, and sometimes new, goods of all types. Haggling is expected and encouraged, but there are often bargains to be had. There is a particularly large sale most Sundays between Easter and October at Cophall Farm, approximately two miles from Hailsham Town Centre. In the winter months boot fairs are smaller and less frequent, but can often be found in nearby village halls - the Friday-Ad, a local free paper, will have listings.

Eat
Hailsham offers plentiful options for eating, from sit-down to takeaway venues, whilst the town centre boasts several takeaways, coffee shops and bakeries.

Drink
Like many small towns, some of Hailsham's pubs have closed, but there is still a variety of options.

Stay safe
The town is generally very safe, but can be a little rowdy in the centre around pub closing time on Friday and Saturday evenings. This usually amounts to little more than some additional noise.

Go next

 * Battle - the site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

title: Hailsham


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Hailuoto

Hailuoto (Swedish: Karlö) is the largest island in the Gulf of Bothnia in Western Oulu region, Finland.

By ferry

Most people arrive with the free ferry from Oulunsalo on the mainland. The ferry takes both cars and lighter traffic.

By car
In the winter when the ice is strong enough it is possible to drive to the island without taking the ferry, by an official ice road replacing it.

By bus
You can reach Hailuoto by Oulu PTA's bus number 59 from Oulu. There are a couple of buses a day to the island (and along the main road?).

By taxi

 * Otaxi offers taxi service in Hailuoto
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

Eat

If you like to prepare your own food: two grocery store chains, and  are present in the main village.

Internet
For free Wi-Fi and internet terminals, check the. Also cafés and the hotel may have Wi-Fi.

Go next
Go back to the mainland by ferry.

title: Hailuoto


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Hainan

Hainan (海南; Hái-nâm in Hainanese, Hǎinán in Mandarin) is an island province of China, famous for its tropical beaches. It has a thriving tourist industry and is being heavily promoted as "China's Hawaii".

Understand
Hainan is China's southernmost province, south of Guangdong province and across the Gulf of Tonkin from Vietnam. "Hainan" literally means "South of the Ocean".

The first known inhabitants of Hainan were a Tai–Kadai ethnic group known as the Hlai or Li (黎族). Large scale Han Chinese settlement of Hainan did not occur until the Song Dynasty (960−1279), and continued up until the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). The Li people were eventually pushed into the highlands by Han settlers and today, the island has a Han majority, mostly concentrated in the coastal plains, while the Li people remain the largest non-Han ethnic group, mostly concentrated in the southern highlands.

For much of its history, Hainan was considered a backwater and used as a place of exile for failed officials. It was administered by the Qing Dynasty and Republic of China as a prefecture of Guangdong Province. It became a separate province in 1988, making it China's smallest province, and the only island province administered by the PRC. The entire island has been declared a Special Economic Zone.

The climate is subtropical to tropical. In January and February, it gets thick fog, especially in coastal areas and the northern part of the island.

While the Hainanese diaspora is not as large as that of Fujian and Guangdong, they nevertheless form a significant minority among the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. Like the aforementioned two provinces, Hainan has benefitted substantially from overseas Chinese investment.

The island has been popular with Russian tourists for decades and now gets many tourists from the other cold parts of Europe as well. Hainan is undergoing heavy tourist-oriented development with various international hotel chains establishing resorts, especially in the Sanya area. These days, many wealthy Chinese from the northern provinces own second homes in Hainan, where they move to in the winter to escape the bitter cold that characterises much of northern China. These also means that hotel and real estate prices in the Sanya area are among the most expensive in the world.

Hainan also administers the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, which though controlled by China are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

Talk
The main local language is Hainanese, which belongs to the Min family of Chinese dialects, but is not mutually intelligible with any of the others. Even other Chinese consider it difficult to learn as it employs many unusual consonants which have no equivalent in any other Chinese "dialects" or Western languages, and has an odd tone structure. Nevertheless, learn a little of the language if you can, as locals are very proud of their language, and even knowing a few basic greetings will get you acquainted with the locals much more easily. Hainanese also has dialectal variations between different parts of the island, and it is not uncommon for Hainanese from different parts of the island to converse in Mandarin instead, though the Wenchang dialect is considered to be the prestige dialect, and is generally used in news reports and understood throughout the island.

As anywhere in China, Mandarin is the lingua franca; nearly everyone can speak it with the exception of some of the elderly. Due to the proximity with Guangdong, some locals understand Cantonese as well. Hainan is also home to migrants from other parts of China, particularly in the winter months, who speak Mandarin but not Hainanese.

Hainan also has significant numbers of speakers both of other Chinese dialects — the Danzhou region has its own local dialect and there are Hakka speakers on the island — and of unrelated languages. The Li people, who are the original inhabitants and largest non-Han minority on the island, speak a language that is distantly related to Thai and Lao. There is also a Miao community on Hainan, who speak a language distantly related to Vietnamese and Khmer. Nevertheless, most younger people from these groups speak Mandarin as well.

As elsewhere in China, English is not widespread but some people speak it quite well. Staff at the main hotels and beach resorts will usually have a functional command of English. Hainan is a traditional destination for Russians escaping their winters, so many shop keepers and restaurant staff know some Russian, and much signage is in (bad!) Russian. However, trying to engage anyone in a conversation more often than not will prove fruitless.

Regions

 * The hilly center of the island is home to various ethnic minorities, with many involved in the tourist industry.
 * Much of the coast has beaches.

Cities

 * (海口) – in the north; the capital and largest city
 * (定安) – in the north, about 50 km south of Haikou. Attractions include one of Hainan's best preserved historical towns, the island's biggest Taoist temple, and a former PLA army base dating from the Chinese Civil War.
 * (澄迈) – in the north, to the west of Haikou, famous for its large number of centenarians
 * (临高) – in the northwest, best known for Cape Lingao (Lingaojiao) - the main landing site for Communist forces during the Hainan Campaign of the Chinese Civil War.
 * (保亭) – toward the south, in the hills
 * (博鳌) – on the east coast, known for the Bo'ao Forum for Asia
 * (陵水) – on the east coast, location of the Hainan incident (an American spy plane forced down)
 * (三亚) – in the south, main tourist destination
 * (文昌) – on the north-east coast, the cradle of Hainanese culture, also hosting a spacecraft launch center for newer rockets
 * (五指山) – in the central highlands
 * (儋州) – in the northwest, with a distinct local dialect
 * (琼海) – on the east coast, known for Jiaji duck, and the all-female company of the Chinese Red Army who fought to defeat the Nationalists during the Chinese Civil War
 * (万宁) – on the east coast, a popular destination for surfers
 * (东方) – on the west coast
 * (琼中) – close to the geographical center of the island, location of Baihualing Falls, one of Hainan's biggest waterfalls
 * (白沙) – in the central highlands, center of Hainan's tea industry

Other destinations

 * - resort area near Sanya
 * Xiangshui or Perfume Bay - new resort area near Lingshui
 * - located in Ledong County, said to contain the largest tropical rainforest in China
 * - located in Changjiang County, the last refuge of the Hainan black-crested gibbon
 * - an artificial archipelago off the north coast of Danzhou featuring museums, gardens, theme parks and various other attractions

Get in
Hainan has a special visa waiver scheme, and citizens of 59 countries can enter visa free for 30 days if entering and leaving the province directly on an international flight (including flights to/from Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan). See this website for details. Connecting to Hainan via a domestic flight from another mainland Chinese airport will require you to obtain a regular Chinese visa in advance.

Hainan's main airport is located at Haikou, the main hub of Hainan Airlines, which serves domestic flights to many major Chinese cities, as well as some international flights to other Asian cities. The airport at Sanya also serves domestic several international flights to other Asian cities, as well as intercontinental flights to Russia. There is a third, smaller airport at Qionghai, though it only serves a small number of domestic flights and no international ones.

Trains run daily from Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai. The trains are loaded onto ferries to cross the sea with passengers remaining in the train cars. The trains stop at both Haikou and Sanya, as well as Dongfang, a smaller station between Haikou and Sanya.

There are no roads connecting Hainan and the mainland, though there are vehicular ferries doing so. If you catch a bus to Hainan, your bus will be loaded onto one of the ferries.

Get around
Haikou at the North end and Sanya at the South end are connected by three highways — East coast, West coast and through the hilly center. Unlike other expressways in Mainland China, there are no direct expressway tolls, as they are included in fuel cost. More-or-less any significant place on the island is on, or at least close to, one of these highways. As anywhere in China, there are buses to almost anywhere.

Three railways connect Haikou and Sanya. One is the old western ring railway, and the other two are the new high-speed western and eastern ring railways. High-speed trains run between Haikou and Sanya at up to 250 km/h, takes one hour and a half between the two cities.

As the smallest province in China with relatively flat landscape, Hainan is an ideal destination for long journey cycling trip. On the East Coast it has a 300km long national road (G223) connecting Haikou, Wenchang, Qionghai, Lingshui and Sanya. The route, which is packed with most famous beach resorts and tourist attractions, is the easiest ride and most popular among amateur cyclists. The Middle route crossing Wuzhishan (Five-Finger Hill) takes some more toil to go. While it is possible to ride along the West coast, this area is the least developed and more preparation may be needed.

See

 * Sanya Beach - China's best-known beach area
 * South Mountain, or Nanshan Tourism Area (南山) - a large Shaolin Buddhist temple complex along the southernmost point of the island. Many backpackers consider this as a tourist trap: the temple was built in 1988 and entrance fees are high.
 * Gusong Village in Wenchang - an ancient, unique, beautiful, non-commercial traditional Hainanese village
 * South Mountain, or Nanshan Tourism Area (南山) - a large Shaolin Buddhist temple complex along the southernmost point of the island. Many backpackers consider this as a tourist trap: the temple was built in 1988 and entrance fees are high.
 * Gusong Village in Wenchang - an ancient, unique, beautiful, non-commercial traditional Hainanese village

Do
The main visitor activities involve beaches and bars. The Sanya area is particularly well-provided with both, but there are some everywhere.

Eat
Hainanese cuisine is similar to that of neighbouring Guangdong, albeit with a number of tropical touches reflecting its climate. The relatively heavy use of coconuts is particularly notable.
 * Wenchang Chicken 1.JPGWenchang chicken - although many people have heard of "Hainanese chicken rice", only the method of preparing the chicken originates from Hainan, from a dish known as Wenchang chicken, which is also considered to be the signature dish of Hainan throughout China. The method of cooking the rice was actually developed by overseas Hainanese after they migrated to Southeast Asia.
 * Live seafood tanks in Danang.jpgSeafood - very good, very fresh and at reasonable prices
 * Try betel nuts, which can make you high, though they're bad for your health. Particularly popular among the indigenous Li people.
 * Coconut Rice Cakes (薏粑, yi bua in Hainanese) are a speciality snack of the northeastern coast of Hainan, from Haikou all the way down to Qionghai.

Drink
The Singapore-based firm Asia Pacific Breweries have a brewery on Hainan and their brands of beer, Tiger and Anchor, are common all over the island. As in anywhere else in China, a range of both Chinese and imported beers are widely available as well. Hainan also has a number of locally-brewed pineapple-based beers, odd but worth a try.

Unlike in northern China, heavy drinking is not part of traditional Hainanese culture. Beer drinking is common, however, and alcohol is widely available. Sanya is home to large communities of northern Chinese escaping the cold in their home provinces during the winter months, and baijiu is widely available to cater to that demographic.

The island is covered with coconut trees, so drinking fresh coconut water is a must. Coffee is also popular among the locals in Hainan due to the influence of returning overseas Hainanese from Southeast Asia, and the Xinglong area in Wanning is Hainan's main coffee-growing region. Milk tea is also a local speciality that similarly traces its roots to the returning overseas Hainanese from Southeast Asia. A distinctive local tradition in Hainan is milk tea or coffee with side dishes such as steamed buns, which is known as 老爸茶 (lǎobàchá), and typically eaten for breakfast or afternoon tea.

Stay safe
Be very careful with water sports on Hainan. Government regulation of activities such as parasailing, diving, and boating on Hainan is lax, so staff often provide little or no training to customers, and the equipment can be shoddy. Without adequate safety precautions, these activities can be dangerous, and even fatal.

As Hainan is a major tourism destination, scams targeting tourists are relatively common, particularly in Sanya and Bo'ao. Be on your guard, as sometimes, even the operators of official tourist attractions are in cahoots with the scammers. Also be on your guard at eateries, as some of them have been known to charge unsuspecting tourists exorbitant prices; make sure you ask for a price list beforehand, and ensure that seafood is weighed in your presence.

Go next
Zhanjiang is the nearest mainland city. For some routes through the region, see Hong Kong to Kunming overland.

There are regular boats from Haikou to Xuwen and Beihai on the Chinese mainland.

There are also flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

title: Hainan


text:
Hainaut

Hainaut is the westernmost province of Wallonia, the francophone region of Belgium. It is densely populated and has an intensely industrial heritage related to coal mining and heavy industry attracted by its once-rich coal deposits. Once a target of economic immigration from entire Europe, it has been suffering economic decline once its core industries floundered, and is now a relatively impoverished area, while the industrial heritage render it less attractive to many compared to regions more rich in earlier, gothic, renaissance and baroque architecture or unspoiled nature. That said, Hainaut is not without its fair share of attractions.

Do
The province is also the location of the popular animal park, located in Cambron-Casteau.

title: Hainaut


text:
Haines

Haines is a small port community (population about 2,000) in Southeastern Alaska on the shores of the Lynn Canal, the state's longest fjord. It is surrounded by glacier-covered mountains of the Coast Range.

Understand
If you loved the TV show Northern Exposure, you'll love the down-home feel of Haines. It's the kind of laid-back place you picture when you think about an Alaskan town. The first thing you'll notice when you arrive is how scenic Haines is.

Haines is blessed with surrounding natural areas and wildlife in what is known as the "Valley of the Eagles." The area is a magnet for bald eagles, drawn by the warm open water and abundant supply of salmon. More than 3,500 of the birds visit from October to February – during that time a dozen eagles may share a single tree limb.

Get in
There are three main ways to get to Haines, which makes Haines more accessible than most other southeast Alaskan communities of its size.

By car
The only road access to the remainder of the continent is on Highway 3 from Haines Junction, Yukon, located 155 miles away. At Haines Junction, Highway 3 intersects with Yukon Highway 1 (Alaska Highway).

By plane
It is possible to fly into, but the only scheduled commercial flights are from Juneau and Skagway. So you can fly Alaska Airlines to Juneau and then catch a smaller bush carrier or charter a flight into Haines. Haines Airport is on the Haines Highway, about 4 miles west of town.

By boat
The third, and probably most popular, way to Haines is by boat. The primary mode of inter-Alaskan transportation is by the Alaska Marine Highway. The Lynn Canal route of the ferry system (Juneau-Haines-Skagway) receives a large amount of ferry traffic, especially in the summer. The is about 4 miles north of town.

By cruise ship
Haines is a port-of-call to cruise ships, only about 20 calls per season, mainly from the Holland-America Line. The is where the cruise ship docks. If you are on a cruise that visits Haines, you can rest assured that your ship will be the only ship in port, and there won't be any large crowds to contend with in town.

Get around
Haines is small enough that you can easily walk around the town in an hour or two.

During cruise ship dockings, there is a Shuttle Bus service that runs every 30 minutes. It starts at the Port Chilkoot Dock, and makes a loop to the Sheldon Museum, Visitor Center, Library, Dalton City, Eagle Foundation, Fort Seward Historic District, and then back to the Dock.

There are no taxis in Haines. Occasionally there is one when someone tries to start a taxi business, but they don't survive. You will need a car, a bike, a shuttle service, or make a friend quick.

Eat
During summer there are a variety of restaurants open from sea food, wood fire cooked pizza, to Mexican. But in winter there can be times where no restaurants are open.

Go next
Take a fast ferry from the Small Boat Harbor or the Port Chilkoot Dock (check the point of departure) to Skagway or Juneau via the Lynn Canal.
 * Alaska Fjordlines, +1-800-320-0146
 * Chilkat Express, +1-855-766-4001
 * Fast Ferry, +1-888-766-2103

title: Haines


text:
Haines City

Haines City is a city in Polk County, Florida.

By car
Two expressways go to Haines City. US-27 goes north-south across the west side of the city, ultimately connecting with I-4 near Walt Disney World. US-17/92 also passes through the city from east-west; it enters from the northeast on 17th Street and enters from the west on Hinson Avenue.

Go next

 * Northeast is the small town of Davenport.

title: Haines City


text:
Haiphong

Haiphong (Hải Phòng) is Vietnam's third largest city, a port near Hanoi.

Understand
Haiphong is mostly significant as the largest city at the delta of the Red River, which is northern Vietnam's main river and the first major river delta from the Chinese border, historically a source of military conflict and also the center of the largest major flat (i.e. agriculturally suitable) region in the country, and therefore a population center of political importance. Its use as a port region is ancient, including opium trading from upriver warlords in Yunnan (China) and general shipping from the French colonial period up to the present.

By bus
Transfer fee to the Vinh Niem Bus Station is 85,000 dong including highway toll fees.

By boat
A number of ferries serve Haiphong, including several daily fast hydrofoils to and from Cat Ba Island. The main terminal is, located at the northern end of Cù Chính Lan street. Beware of touts trying to scam you on this route by selling expansive tickets.

By car
A taxi or private car from Hanoi to Haiphong costs about US$80 one way.

Get around

 * At the port (city centre, Ben Binh St) ferries depart to Cat Ba Island (up to 100,000 dong)
 * To visit Đồ Sơn Beach, about 20 km southeast of Haiphong, go to Lạch Tray St and board any bus marked Đồ Sơn (17,000 dong).

Eat
Stalls about town offer the normal array of Vietnamese cuisine. Local specials include anything cua (crab) or seafood, for example:
 * "bánh đa cua"- noodle soup with crab and other traditional Vietnamese ingredients. Delicious. Try it once and you won't forget it!
 * "bánh bèo"- a white cake made from rice, filled with meat and eaten with a special sauce
 * "bún tôm"- a kind of noodle soup, with shrimp
 * "chè bưởi"- sweetened porridge, made of beans, glutinous rice and mostly grapefruit, often with added coconut sauce and dry-salted coconut slices
 * "bánh mì que" or "bánh mì cay" — ultra-thin mini-baguettes stuffed with pork pâté, then dipped in a chilli, tomato and garlic sauce.

There are also quite a lot of lau (sit around and BBQ your own stuff / hotplate) restaurants.

Foreign food includes:
 * A couple of alleged 'Texas BBQ' establishments
 * A terrible Indian establishment
 * A pricy-looking Thai restaurant
 * Pizza Hut

Drink

 * Lipton Iced Tea - a branded Lipton tea bag in a narrow drinking glass filled with drinking water with sugar and ice cubes added. Makes a refreshing alternative to coffee.
 * Hai Phong Beer (from 6000 dong/glass) - locally made beer.

Go next

 * Cat Ba Island
 * Do Son (Beach) — 20-23 km from Haiphong. Do Son is resort frequented by the Vietnamese, but by few Westerners. The beaches are not the greatest as silt affects the quality of the water. A visit to nearby Cat Ba is advisable if you want to swim, as the water quality is much better. Do Son sits along the ocean coast, and is filled with low-end hotels, restaurants, and karaoke bars. It has a reputation as a centre for prostitution. There is a casino (one of very few in Vietnam) at the Do Son Resort Hotel. It's worth visiting for a peaceful day or two away from the bustle of Haiphong.
 * Ha Long Bay
 * Hanoi — about 100 km from Haiphong, 2-3 hours.

title: Haiphong


text:
Haiti

Haiti (Haitian Creole: Ayiti, French: Haïti) is a Caribbean country on the western half of the island of Hispaniola. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the country suffers from a myriad of social, economic, and political problems and since the 1950s, it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, for those with patience and an open mind, Haiti reveals a rich culture that is unique among post-colonial nations. This is the only country in the world that was established by a successful slave revolt, the first country in the Americas to abolish slavery, and all of the country's first leaders were former slaves. Haiti has a sizeable diaspora around the world, and many influential figures like W. E. B. Du Bois, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (the founder of Chicago) and former Canadian Governor-General Michaëlle Jean were of Haitian origin.

Understand
It is extremely helpful when traveling in Haiti to have a local contact, through a church, a hotel, or just through making friends with someone. Experiences like dining locally, riding on a tap-tap, or strolling through one of the insanely crowded outdoor markets are great fun and very worth doing but are much safer and easier if you have a trusted Haitian to go along as a guide and interpreter.

Much of Haiti is struggling. It is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, long beset by government corruption, and now imperiled by violent criminal gangs. The north coast of Haiti was lashed by Hurricane Irma in 2017, and in 2016, Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on large parts of Haiti, leaving behind more than 1,000 dead and destroying homes and infrastructure, including tourist areas and healthcare facilities, on a large scale. Before that, the earthquake in 2010 damaged buildings.

Climate
Tropical and semiarid where mountains in the east cut off trade winds, Haiti lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and is subject to severe storms from June to November. Experiences occasional flooding, earthquakes and droughts.

When traveling to Haiti it is very important that you bring a first aid kit. Be sure to include a lighter, flashlight (due to Haiti’s constant power outages), an antacid such as Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth subsalicylate), instant ice packs, an analgesic such as ibuprofen (known for example as Motrin), and paracetamol, water purifying tablets (just in case), bug spray, sunscreen, antihistamine (Benadryl), etc. Be sure to not drink the water or any drinks made with the water unless you are on an American-run base with guaranteed purified water.

Terrain
Mostly mountainous, with a wide, flat central plain to the north. The highest point is Chaine de la Selle at 2,777 m (9,111 ft).

History
Haiti was inhabited by the native Taino Indians when Christopher Columbus landed on December 5, 1492 at Mole St Nicolas; see Voyages of Columbus. Columbus named the island Hispaniola. The Taino were a branch of the Arawak Indians, a peaceful tribe that was weakened by frequent violent invasions by the supposedly cannibalistic Carib Indians. Later, Spanish settlers brought smallpox and other European diseases to which the Taino had no immunity. In short order, the native Taino were virtually annihilated. There is no visible trace of Taino blood on Haiti today, and the vast majority of Haitians are descendants of enslaved Africans; however, genetic studies have shown that both European and Taino admixtures are more common than often believed. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola and in 1697 Spain ceded the western third of the island to France. Through the development of sugar and coffee plantations, the French colony of Saint-Domingue flourished, becoming one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean. Enslaved Africans were brought to Haiti to work on these French plantations. Work conditions for slaves on Haiti were the harshest imaginable, as sugar and coffee plantations required intensive labor. The French imported an enormous slave labor force, which ultimately vastly outnumbered the French planters 10 to 1. Even within the minority of free people in the colony there were major divisions, between the "petit blancs" (small whites) who did not own slaves and worked in trades or as overseers, the "grand blancs" (big whites) who owned slaves and plantations and the "free coloreds" who were descendants of slaves and whites and occupied all strata of free society from wealthy landowner to poor day-laborer. The whites, who were largely born off the island and only came to Saint Domingue to make a fortune instituted a racist caste system designed to deny the "free coloreds" the relatively powerful position they had gained by the mid 18th century. However, all those inherent tensions (and the overriding tension of slavery) came to a head when the French Revolution broke out in the metropole in 1789 and all this talk of "freedom" and "equality" meant that everybody - including the big whites - wanted to overthrow the colonial order up to that point, ultimately resulting in a slave uprising and the collapse of the whole slavery and plantation based society.

In August 1791, Saint-Domingue's nearly 500,000 slaves revolted, triggering an almost continuous civil war in which the inherent tensions between the various groups of Haitian society erupted. After a bloody 13-year struggle, that was influenced and in turn influenced the Napoleonic Wars as well as the American War of 1812, the former slaves ousted the French and created Haiti, the first black republic, in 1804. Unfortunately, one of independent Haiti's first leaders, Jean Jacques Dessalines, who proclaimed himself Emperor Jacques I perpetrated a massacre against the remaining white Haitians, killing almost all of them and driving most of the rest into exile. Jacques I was assassinated two years later by his own officers and replaced by Henri Christophe (King Henri I of Haiti), setting the precedent for a lot of violent transfers of power, which however usually ended with death not exile of the losing side. Haiti was hampered by the ravages of the wars, as well as a lack of major trading partners which was further complicated by the refusal of any major power to acknowledge Haitian independence. France only accepted independence in the 1820s after Jean Pierre Boyer agreed to pay a 150 million francs indemnity to France in exchange for recognition of independence - a major source of Haiti's crushing debt and a sum France has duly collected most of and never so much as apologized for. The United States, itself a slave holding nation, did not officially recognize Haiti until the Civil War eliminated Southern resistance in the Senate to such a move - six decades after Haiti had thrown off the colonial yoke.

A lack of government and civil unrest led to the American occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934. While order was brought about and much infrastructure was developed in Haiti by the United States, Haitians resented the occupation of their country. The withdrawal of Americans by President Roosevelt in 1934 left a power vacuum that was filled by Haitian military elite. The Forbes Commission in 1930 accurately noted that "the social forces that created [instability] still remain — poverty, ignorance, and the lack of a tradition or desire for orderly free government."

The following 20 years saw ruthless struggles for power that ended with the ascension of François (Papa Doc) Duvalier. Duvalier's brutal dictatorship lasted nearly thirty years, with his son, Jean-Claude (Bébé Doc) Duvalier assuming power after Papa Doc's death in 1971. During the Duvalier dynasty, Papa Doc’s secret police known as the Tonton Macoute rose to power and committed mass atrocities across Haiti until Bébé Doc was ousted in 1986, followed by more bloodshed and military rule that culminated in a new Constitution in 1987 and the election of former priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide as president in 1990.

After a coup, Aristide went into exile. Most of his term was usurped by a military takeover, but he returned to office in 1994 after Haitian General Raoul Cedras asked the United States to intervene, negotiating the departure of Haiti's military leaders and paving the way for the return of Aristide. His former prime minister, René Préval, became president in 1996. Aristide won a second term as president in 2000, and took office early in 2001. However, accusations of corruption were followed by a paramilitary coup that ousted Aristide in 2004. Since then, Haiti has been occupied by U.N. peacekeeping troops (MINUSTAH), mostly from Brazil.

Culture
The New World Afro-Diasporic customs of Vodou are widely practiced in Haiti and mixed with Catholicism. Vodou (also spelled Voodoo, et al.) arises from Yoruba religion from Nigeria, plus elements of indigenous Taino culture.

Holidays

 * January 1: New Year's Day and Independence Day
 * January 2: Ancestry Day
 * May 18: Flag and Universities Day
 * August 15: Assumption
 * October 17: Anniversary of the Death of Dessalines
 * December 5: Discovery Day
 * December 25: Christmas

Visitor information

 * Visit Haiti website

Cities

 * — Haiti's big, crowded, and chaotic capital city.
 * — the country's second biggest city, on the Atlantic coast near some beautiful beaches and interesting old forts.
 * — here, on 1 January 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines signed Haiti's Act of Independence, establishing the world's first black republic.
 * — a relaxed town with a beautiful historic center and a claim not easily dismissed to be the country's artistic and cultural capital, albeit in ruins following the earthquake.
 * — Haiti's westernmost and profoundly isolated town is a sleepy little charming place.
 * — Southern Haiti's principal port and a popular jumping off point for Île à Vache.
 * — a wealthy and much safer suburb of Port-au-Prince, where you will find most of the capital's nightlife, restaurants, wealthy Haitians, and foreigners.
 * — the main city in Haiti's drug-smuggling coast, with the opportunity to hail a ferry to Tortuga Island, a virtually undiscovered tropical paradise—albeit well discovered through the centuries by any famous pirate worth his salt and not a few wealthy drug lords.
 * — President Aristide's birthplace, home to miles of gorgeous, empty white sand beaches.

Other destinations

 * The Citadelle Henri Christophe (also known as Citadelle Laferrière) is a fortress located on a high mountain in Haiti overlooking the city of Milot, Haiti. At the base of the mountain stands the ruins of Palais Sans Souci.
 * - a private port used by cruise ships.
 * The 27 historic vestiges of Mole Saint Nicolas, North West, a strategic bay at the enter of Canal du Vent, also called Gibraltar of America. Good site for sports too (wind surf, kite surf, mountain bike, hiking, etc.).

Visa requirements
Haiti has open borders, which means that citizens of most countries can enter the country without a visa. The government is keen on improving Haiti's global image and is actively promoting the tourist industry.

Visa-free privileges are not extended to citizens Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Iran, Libya, Panama, Syria, Vietnam and Yemen, however.

By plane
International travelers will arrive in Haiti at Port-au-Prince at the  Aéroport Toussaint L'Ouverture Airport or Aéroport International Cap-Haïtien  in the North. The plane tickets can be purchased via many online ticketing sites and agencies. There are intra-Haiti flights available as well. Prices on these flights can fluctuate from time to time due to inflation but, depending on the airline, are usually between $125-$132 return from and to Port-au-Prince, cheaper between Port-au-Prince and Jacmel. A really cheap, dependable and popular airline is Sunrise Airways. In addition to avoiding rather dangerous and inadequate public transportation system by bus and tap-taps, flights offer a safe passage into and out of Port-au-Prince from other parts in Haiti.

Airlines such as American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit serve Port-au-Prince from the US. Air Transat, Air France, Caribair, and among others, also offer international flights to and from Port-au-Prince.

MFI (Missionary Flights International) fly to Cap also from Florida, but only registered non-Catholic Christian missionaries are welcome aboard. Other international airlines serving Cap-Haïtien include Sky King, Turks and Caicos Air and Pine-apple Air.

By road
From Santo Domingo, Caribe Tours runs a once-daily bus to Petionville (in the hills above Port-au-Prince) that leaves at 11AM. A ticket costs $40 one-way, $26 USD tax and 100 DR. Unfortunately, this bus drops you off in Petionville after dark so make prior arrangements with a trustworthy person to meet you and transport you to your lodging.

There is also a crowded border crossing between Dominican Republic and Haiti in Dajabón/Ouanaminthe. The border is open only during the day. From here you can catch local transport to Cap-Haïtien.

Another, less expensive, option from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince, is to take a gua-gua (Dominican minibus) from Santo Domingo (departing a few blocks north of Parque Enriquillo) for 380 DR pesos (about $10, 5 h) and arrive in the border town of Jimani. From there, it is a 4 km walk or a 50 DR pesos ride by motoconcho to the border post.

The border is apparently open 09:00-18:00 (but don't rely those times). It is very easy to cross the border without submitting to any immigration procedures on either side, and although it would probably be illegal, it saves a few dozen dollars on bribes and is much faster too. Apart from entering the DR when a soldier takes a look at the passport, nobody does any inspection: immigration or customs. Entering Haiti legally is quick: fill out the green form and pay whatever amount the official asks (around 100 DR). There are no ATMs at the border.

Moneychangers give gourdes for DR pesos and US dollars. Rates are fair. There is plenty of local transportation from the border to Port-au-Prince. Crowded tap-taps and buses can take you to Croix-des-Bouquets for 50 gourdes (1.5-2 h), from where it is another hour to Port-au-Prince proper (bus, 5 gourdes). The road has variable conditions and is prone to flooding. Peruvian UN soldiers at the border have confirmed that the road to Port-au-Prince is safe to travel with no incidents of robbery or kidnappings, but definitely try to arrive in Port-au-Prince before dark.

By car
Cars may be rented through Hertz, Avis, etc. Taxis in Haiti are usually in the form of SUVs or trucks, as most of the roads are long overdue for repairs, in addition to plethora of unpaved roads one faces while travelling in Haiti. The price is often fair (i.e., 450 gourdes, or $11.53 at 39 gourdes to a dollar, from Port-au-Prince to Léogâne), but offers safety and comfort that cannot be found in riding tap-taps or buses.

By bus
"Tap-taps" are the most economical way to travel in Haiti. Haitian tap-taps are modified trucks or vans and are ubiquitous throughout Haiti. A raised wooden canopy-like cabin usually sits over the truck bed while wood benches are attached to the bed and serve as seats. Tap-taps are frequently painted bright colors, feature images of popular celebrities and elements featuring popular culture, and often bear a religious slogan, such as Jesus vous aime ("Jesus loves you").

In Port-au-Prince, most routes cost 10 gourdes ($0.25). They are also quite convenient as they will stop anywhere along the route: simply yell "merci!" to get the driver to stop. However, they are sometimes overpacked and can be quite dangerous to ride in the mountain roads where the road conditions are less than ideal. First time travellers who do not speak conversational Creole are advised not to travel by tap-tap without assistance. There are also school bus versions of tap-taps used for longer voyages. These are often modified school buses.

A more comfortable alternative for long distance travel are minibuses. These congregate at various lots throughout the city, organized by destination. Seats to Jacmel, for example, cost about 150 gourdes (30 Haitian dollars, $3.75), while the more comfortable front seat may go for 200 gourdes ($5).

Talk
The official languages of Haiti are French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisien), which is a French-based creole language, with 92% of the vocabulary being derived from French and the rest primarily from African languages. Haitian Creole is the native language of the masses, while French is the administrative language, even though only 15 % of Haitians can speak it and only about 2% can speak it well.

Creole is mutually intelligible with French on the most basic level, so the competent French speaker should be fine in limited circumstances. Many Haitians are very appreciative if you take the trouble to learn a little bit of one of the official languages (preferably Creole), rather than using an interpreter or expecting them to speak English. Haitians working in tourist areas usually speak English well enough for conversation.

See
Port-Au-Prince has some landmarks, structures and statues, such as a large pair of hands holding the earth. Many of these are close to the airport. This city is the largest in Haiti and was the most affected by the earthquake. You will still see evidence of the disaster, such as crumbling buildings, but much reconstruction has taken place. When you go a short distance outside of the city, you will have a better idea of the devastation. There are still people living in the "tent village," which extends for about two miles and is made up of small tarps draped over sticks stuck in the ground. As you go on, you may pass one of the mass graves dug after the earthquake, but you probably will not realize it is a grave. It's on the side of a small mountain, and the grass has grown over the turned earth. There are no markings but you will sometimes see people there or flowers placed in memory.

Haiti has beautiful scenery if you know where to find it. If you are travelling or staying with someone who knows the area well, ask if there are any nice beaches or mountainous areas nearby. St. Marc, along with some other cities, has a beautiful mountain range that can be hiked. At the top of these mountains are some historical artifacts, structures and incredible views of the ocean.

The severe impact of earthquakes in 2010 left Haiti's economy in ruin. However, there are several erected memorials that invoke the memory to the thousands of victims who lost their lives during the disaster.

Do
Champs-de-Mars was once the most beautiful park in Haiti but is now covered in tents housing people made homeless by the earthquake. It was a public place where people went to relax, before the quake. It is located near the National Palace.

Money
The Haitian gourde is the currency of Haiti, denoted by the symbol "G" (ISO code: HTG). Although merchants are required to quote prices in gourdes by law, virtually everything is priced in "dollars" — not US but Haitian dollars, equivalent to 5 gourdes. This practice is a holdover from the US occupation of Haiti in the early 20th century, during which the gourde was pegged at G5 to the US dollar.

Coins of Haiti are issued in denominations of 5, 20 and 50 centimes, 1 and 5 gourdes. Banknotes of Haiti are issued in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 gourdes.

Shopping
Haiti has become famous for its very informal yet interesting bustling marketplace. Everything is sold here ranging from the curiously appealing to the dullest of objects for rather inexpensive prices. Haggling is both wise and recommended, as most Haitians will charge foreigners at least double the market rate. There are various large retail supermarkets in the capital that offer a variety of items at fixed prices. Haiti has a world of crafts waiting to be sought after.

Eat
Haitian cuisine is typical of Caribbean métissage, a wonderful mix of French and African culinary traditions. It is similar to its Spanish Caribbean neighbors yet unique in its strong presence of spices. Roast goat called 'kabrit', morsels of fried pork 'griot', poultry with a Creole sauce 'poulet creole', rice with wild mushroom 'du riz jonjon' are all wonderful and tasty dishes.

Along the coast, fish, lobster and conch are readily available. Haiti has a very fine collection of fruit including guava, pineapple, mango (Haiti's most prized fruit), banana, melons, breadfruit, as well as mouthwatering sugarcane cut and peeled to order on the streets. Restaurants in the bigger cities provide safe and delicious meals, and precautions are taken with the food and water to keep things safe.

However, even in resorts with purified water, it is not always safe to assume that raw vegetables (such as lettuce and tomatoes) have been properly washed. In smaller or more humble venues make sure to eat fruit and vegetables that can be skinned or peeled, drink bottled drinks only, make sure any ice is from a clean water source, and make sure any meat is well-cooked.

When bottled water or boiled water is not available, a freshly opened coconut provides water and electrolytes with minimal health risk.

Drink
Haitian rum is well-known. Barbancourt 5 star is a top drawer drink. Clairin is the local firewater made from sugarcane that can be bought on the street, often flavored with various herbs that can be seen stuffed into the bottle. Prestige is the national beer, and is of good quality and excellent taste. Also be sure to try the Papye drink, a sort of papaya milk shake that is deliciously refreshing beyond words on a hot day. Cremas is a tasty, creamy alcoholic beverage that is derived from coconut milk.

Sleep
There are many guest houses throughout Haiti. However, these are quite hard to find while overseas. Many of these guest houses run about 25 to 35 dollars a night and include 2 to 3 meals during the day. Sometimes these houses are associated with orphanages (such as Saint Joseph's Home for Boys).

 * Saint Joseph's Home for Boys is in Delmas 91, near Petionville.
 * Fondwa Guest House is at the bottom of the hill from Anbatonèl (a small village halfway between Léogâne and Jacmel).

Camping is a high-risk activity in certain parts of Haiti and is not recommended.

Learn
The educational system of Haiti is based on the French system. Higher education, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, is provided by universities and other public and private institutions. The higher education schools in Haiti include the University of Haiti. There are also medical schools and law schools offered at both the University of Haiti and abroad. Brown University is cooperating with L'Hôpital Saint-Damien in Haiti to coordinate a pediatric health care curriculum.

Work
Haiti's unemployment rate is one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere at over 14%.

Stay safe
Since the assassination of its president in 2021, Haiti has once again devolved into complete lawlessness. Several governments advise against all travel travel to Haiti. Violent crime and civil unrest are serious problems. Kidnapping is also a risk. In case of trouble, help from the outside world will be extremely limited.

Do not unnecessarily carry valuables or more cash than needed, or walk late at night in dark streets. Women should not walk alone. The number of people that fled the country after the 2010 earthquake is unknown, but the atmosphere has changed some people. Even when women walk with other men, Haitian men may still utter remarks. They are not afraid to maintain eye contact, and their stares may make one uneasy. It is best to be polite, but be engaged in your immediate group.

Stay healthy
Sanitary conditions in Haiti are poor and medical care is woefully inadequate. If you get ill or injured whilst in Haiti, you may need to leave or be evacuated.

Tap water should be avoided. Drink bottled water only. Washing oneself with water from places such as creeks or lakes is not recommended due to the risk of water-borne diseases. Several diseases can cause dehydration, as can sweating a lot because of the hot climate. Hydration requirements can be fulfilled by preparing one of the many water purifying systems as if one were going camping, or by buying bottled water once in Haiti; it is widely available and inexpensive by western standards.

Various mosquito-borne diseases are a concern in Haiti, and precautions against mosquitoes are strongly recommended. Malaria is common and most travellers will need anti-malarial drugs. Dengue fever is also fairly common. Zika fever is also a concern, especially for women who are or may become pregnant. Check with your doctor, a tropical medicine specialist, or a local hospital or clinic, preferably at least 6 weeks before your trip, to find out what immunizations and anti-malarial prophylaxis they would suggest. There is now an oral cholera vaccine which also gives partial immunity to various causes of travellers' diarrhea; that may be a good idea for Haiti, although cholera does not typically affect tourists. The US government Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a page with advice for travellers to Haiti.

Depending on your itinerary, you may have to walk a lot. Comfortable footwear is crucial for avoiding blisters. Hiking boots are recommended as well as comfortable sandals.

Respect
One thing visitors to Haiti learn very quickly is that Haitians are a very friendly and down-to-earth people, despite all they have had to endure. There are some beggars and peddlars in the cities, but they are the exception, not the rule. Expect no kow-towing. Impoverished Haitians will always accept gifts, but they will almost always stand straight, look you in the eye, and repay you with a sincere "Mesi" (thanks).

Haiti is a nation of fairly conservative norms. Modest dress when exploring Haiti's cities is advised, especially for women. The smart visitor should look people in the eye, wave hello, and treat them with friendship and respect, as equals, no matter how poor or desperate their living conditions may seem.

Try to learn some basic words of Haitian Creole.

Ask permission before taking pictures of locals (they often ask you for money). Never walk about sticking your camera in people's faces or taking pictures randomly. Do not solely take pictures of the piles of trash you may see in some of the bigger cities (such as Cap-Haïtien or Port-au-Prince) or anything else that Haitians are not proud of as it is offensive. However, people have no problem with foreigners taking pictures of beautiful scenery, cultural events or historical sites.

Carry a few gourdes in your pockets for the kids who carry your luggage/shine your shoes/hail your tap-tap at the airport (but be alert for pickpockets).

Sometimes visitors to Haiti walk about handing out candy or dollar bills. While many people, especially children, will accept your offering, this is offensive to most people as it compromises the dignity of Haitians. Carry an extra water bottle and food to share with your driver, guide, or interpreter.

Be patient as nothing moves fast in Haiti. Most people will find your whining amusing at best and severely insulting at worst.

Carry a few photos of the area where you live, your workplace, or your family to share with friends you make. These are the things that transform you from just another tourist into a real person. More often than not, the people will return the favor, and you might just find a friend.

The people on the Gonâve Island have quite possibly less contact with Americans than say those Haitians in Port-au-Prince. The children shout "blan, blan, blan" as white people walk by. The children on the saline flats will readily walk with you, show you how to skip stones off the water and try very hard to communicate with you. They may try to charge you for picking up a shell from the flats and up to $6 to take a picture of their donkey. You do not have to pay, but out of respect, do not take the picture. They appreciate being asked if you may take their picture.

title: Haiti


text:
Haitian Creole phrasebook

Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen) is one of the official languages of Haiti along with French. The former is spoken by 8.5 million people in Haiti, which is nearly the entire population. It is also spoken by large Haitian communities in several nearby countries, among the United States, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and French Guiana. It is based on 18th century French and several West and Central African languages with minor Spanish influence. 90% of Haitian Creole is based on French, although it differs greatly from standard French because of the lack of grammatical gender and verb inflection.

Pronunciation guide
Creole pronunciation is very phonetic, unlike French—the language it's based on. If you can make friends with a Haitian who speaks English, they will usually be glad to help with your pronunciation. Sounds marked with an asterisk (*) are particularly difficult for English speakers. The nasal sounds can be pronounced as if the 'n' were not there, and the 'r' can be pronounced as a 'w.' While not quite correct, these pronunciations will be generally understandable.

Vowels

 * a : /a/ as in father
 * e : /e/ as in aim
 * è : /ɛ/ as in bet
 * i : /e/ as in bee
 * o : /o/ as in toe
 * ò : /ɔ/ as in saw
 * ou : /u/ as in food
 * ui : /ɥi/ as in weed

Nasal Vowels
Nasal sounds are pronounced without fully articulating the 'n.' Think making the sound, but stopping 3/4 of the way through the 'n.'
 * an* : /ã/ as in genre, but nasal
 * en* : /ẽ/ as in hen, but nasal
 * on* : /õ/ as in on, but nasal

Consonants

 * ch : /ʃ/ as in shoe
 * g : always hard, as in go
 * j : /ʒ/ as in treasure
 * r* : /ɣ/ no English equivalent, but pronounced like the 'r' in French
 * y : /j/ as in yellow

Basics

 * Hello. (morning): Bonjou. (BOH-joo)
 * Hello. (afternoon): Bonswa. (BOH-swa )
 * How are you? : Koman ou yè? (KOH-mah oo yay?)
 * Not bad. : Pa pi mal. (pah pee mahl)
 * What is your name? : Koman ou rèlè? (KOH-mah oo RAY-lay?)
 * My name is ______ . : Mwen rèlè ______ . (mway RAY-lay _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : Enchantè. (on-shahn-TAY)
 * Please. : Souple. ( )
 * Thank you/very much. : Mesi/anpil. (meh-SEE/on-PEEL)
 * You're welcome. : Pa de kwa. (pah-day-kwaah)
 * Yes. : Wi. (wee)
 * No. : Non. (no)
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Eskise'm. (es-KEEZ-eh m)
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Padone'm. ( )
 * I'm sorry. : Dezole. ( )
 * Goodbye : Bye Bye. (bah-buy)
 * I can't speak kreyol. : Mwen pa kap pale kreyol. (mway pah kahp PAH-lay kway-OHL)
 * Do you speak English? : Eske ou pale Angle? (ES-kay oo PAH-lay on-GLAY?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Gen moun isit ki pale Angle? ( ?)
 * Help! : Anmwe! ( !)
 * Look out! : Atensyon! (!)
 * Good morning. : Bonjou. ( )
 * Good evening. : Bonswa. ( )
 * Good night. : Bon wit. ( )
 * I don't understand. : Mwen pa konprann. (mway pah kone-PWAN)
 * Where is the toilet? : Kote twalet la? (KOH-tay twah-LET la?)

Numbers

 * 0 : zewo
 * 1 : en
 * 2 : de
 * 3 : twa
 * 4 : kat
 * 5 : senk
 * 6 : sis
 * 7 : sèt
 * 8 : wit
 * 9 : nèf
 * 10 : dis
 * 11 : onz
 * 12 : douz
 * 13 : trèz
 * 14 : katòz
 * 15 : kenz
 * 16 : sèz
 * 17 : disèt
 * 18 : dizwit
 * 19 : diznèf
 * 20 : ven, vent

 * 30 : trant
 * 40: karant
 * 50 : senkant
 * 60 : swasant
 * 70 : swasenndis
 * 80 : katreven, katrevent
 * 90 : katrevendis, katreven-dis
 * 100 : san

 * 1000 : mil
 * 2000 : de mil
 * 5000 : senk mil
 * 10,000 : di mil
 * 100,000 : san mil
 * 1 000 000 : milyon
 * 1 000 000 000 : bilyon

Clock time

 * How long? : Pou konben tan?

Days

 * Sunday : dimanch
 * Monday : lendi
 * Tuesday : madi
 * Wednesday : mèkredi
 * Thursday : jedi
 * Friday : vandredi
 * Saturday : samdi
 * Today : jodi a
 * Tomorrow : denmen
 * Yesterday : yè

Months

 * January : Janvye
 * February: Fevriye
 * March : Mas
 * April : Avril
 * May : Mè
 * June : Jen
 * July : Jiyè
 * August : Daou
 * September : Septanm
 * October : Oktob
 * November : Novanm
 * December : Desanm

Colors

 * black : nwa
 * white : blan
 * red : wouj
 * green : vèt
 * blue : ble
 * orange : zoranj

 * yellow : jòn

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket? : Konben koute biye?
 * Does this bus stop in ____ ? : Tap la arete nan ____ ?
 * Can you stop here? : Ou pve arèt isit?

Directions

 * I'm lost. : Mwen se pèdi.
 * How do I get to ____ ? : Koumon mwen pve ale o ____ ?
 * Which way? : Ki wout?

Taxi

 * I need a taxi. : Mwen bezwen yon taksi.
 * Hey! Taxi! : Woy! Taksi!
 * How much to go to ... : Konben pou ale ...
 * Stop here, please : Rete isit, souple.

Money

 * How much does it cost? : Konbyen sa koute?
 * Can I exchange euros/dollars/pounds here? : Mwen pve chanje ewo/dolar/lib si?

Shopping

 * Do you sell ____ ?: Èske ou vann ____ ?
 * Where can I buy ____ ? : Ki kote mwen ka achte ____  ?
 * That's too expensive. : Sa twò chè.
 * I will give you ____ . : Map ba ou ____.
 * OK! : Dakò!

title: Haitian Creole phrasebook


text:
Hajar Mountains

The Hajar Mountains are a range in Northern Oman stretching along the northern coast of Oman, from southwest of Muscat to the United Arab Emirates.

Understand
This dramatic mountain range has a wealth of attractions for the adventurous traveler, including trekking, rock climbing, canyoning, and off-road exploration. In addition to outdoor activities, there are numerous sights of historic, cultural, and geological interest.

Temperatures in the higher elevations tend to be on average 10-15°C cooler than Muscat, and snow, although very rare, is not unknown. In summer the mountains offer a retreat for those looking to escape the heat baking the rest of Oman and the Arabian peninsula.

Get in
From Muscat, Highways 15 and 21 skirt the southern reaches of the range, and Highways 13 and 11 provide access from the north. Travelers from the UAE will arrive via Highway 21.

Get around
It is possible to get a glimpse of some of the mountains' spectacular scenery with just a 2WD, but to really explore a 4WD is essential, as many highlights are otherwise simply inaccessible.

Jebel Akhdar
Jebel Akhdar ('Green Mountain') is topped by the vast Sayq Plateau (Saiq Plateau), home to traditional mountain villages, fruit orchards, and terraced gardens. Oman's most highly-prized rosewater is produced here, and springtime is particularly beautiful when the fruit trees and rose gardens are all in bloom. This is a cool destination even during the height of summer, and in winter temperatures drop below freezing. It is possible to visit as a very ambitious day trip, but to really appreciate it is best to allow a couple of days. The road is newly paved and in excellent condition but a 4WD is mandatory; travelers without a suitable car will be turned back at the police checkpoint.

 * From Highway 15, take the turnoff for Birkat al Mawz. Turn left at the T-junction (following signs for 'Nizwa'), and then follow the signs for 'Al Jabal al Akhdar'. On the right you'll pass, a thousand-year-old fortress, now fully restored and open to the public.
 * A 4WD is required to pass the, where you must show your driver's license and car registration. From here you'll need to use low gear.
 * 500 m after passing, turn left for Sayh Qutnah.
 * After 3 km the road forks; take the road to the left and proceed 700 m to . A little way further is the scenic, so named after the Princess of Wales visited in 1990 via helicopter. Some good campsites are nearby, as is the  (, doubles from RO 132).
 * The trailhead for (Village Walk) begins in the village below the Sahab Hotel. This 2-hour hike passes through the cliff-hugging terraced gardens of Al Ayn, Ash Shirayjah, and Sayq and offers outstanding views of the deep wadis below. If you like you can continue for another 1½-2 hours along W18a to . A short path near the public toilets leads to an abandoned village of mudbrick houses overlooking photogenic plantations.

Jebel Shams
This is Oman's highest peak, with several excellent hiking trails providing spectacular views into Wadi an Nakhur and Wadi Ghul. It is possible to visit as a day trip from Nizwa, but as with Jebel Akhdar it is best to take a couple of days for this excursion. The higher northern peak houses an Oman Royal Air Force facility and is not accessible to the public. The only slightly lower southern peak can be reached by a challenging hike. Most visitors will enjoy the view from the western edge of the gorge, where several viewpoints and resorts are signposted.

The road approaching Jebel Shams is not paved for the last 13 km, but is regularly graded and well maintained. It does however occasionally get washed out following heavy rains, after which it becomes impassable without a 4WD. Depending on the weather and the current condition of the road, it may be possible to drive to the end with a 2WD, but those with a rental car should note that driving it off pavement will void your auto insurance.

 * From Nizwa, head west on Highway 21 and turn north onto the signposted to Al Hamra. Proceed north for 12 km, and turn left at the . Continue until the . A little further is a turnoff to the left for  . If you aren't sleeping here, follow the sharp bend of the road to the right. After this point if there have been washouts the road will get quite rough.
 * Turn right at the for Al Khitaym and Al Heil, where the road is again paved. Pass  (formerly Jabal Shams Height Resort or Jabal Shams Base Camp, tel. +968 927 219 99) to reach the trailhead for  (trekking path summit of Jebel Shams), a challenging 11- to 14-hour hike.
 * A offers the first stunning views into Wadi an Nakhur below, and   is a comfortable place to spend the night. Shortly after the resort the pavement ends again; good camping spots and some more viewing points are just a bit further up the road.
 * The road ends at the tiny goatherders' village of, where local villagers sell woven goat hair rugs and bags. A short distance away is the trailhead for the W6 (Abandoned Village) trekking path, an easy one-hour trek along an ancient donkey path to the abandoned village of (also called Sap Bani Kamis), built directly into the side of the cliff. Notable features of this improbably-located site include mill ruins, cave housing, terraces, and, during the wet season, a waterfall.

Wadi an Nakhur
Wadi an Nakhur is the deepest canyon in the Middle East, and according to some is the world's second-deepest canyon after the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is sometimes also referred to as Wadi Ghul, although technically Wadi Ghul marks the canyon's mouth, and Wadi an Nakhur is the proper name for the canyon at its widest point.

The canyon is accessed from the road ascending Jebel Shams and turning right near the village of modern Ghul. The trailhead for trekking path W6a begins by the abandoned village of. The road then passes by the village of Al Hajir, after which point the pavement ends. Here it quickly degrades into a rough track requiring 4WD, but persistence is rewarded with spectacular views of the 1000 m-high cliff faces. After 7 km the road ends at the village of.

Wadi Bani Awf to Al Hamra
This is possibly the most scenic route in the Hajar Mountains, and a long drive requiring at least 4 hours and 4WD. Because it passes through some remote areas it is strongly advised to bring a spare tyre and jack, warm clothing, and extra food and water. It is equally scenic to complete this itinerary in reverse.

 * From Highway 13, take the signposted road to Wadi Bani Awf. You will pass a very basic before reaching a 20 m-high cliff face in, with several good climbing routes.
 * In another 7.5 km you will reach a good camping spot, shortly before the village of . Proceed straight another 3 km and turn left at the . In another 3 km you will reach the entrance of on the right, with year-round water in the upper reaches.
 * After the village of Az Zammah, the road begins a steep ascent. The entrance to the incredible (Snake Gorge), requiring 3-4 hours of serious hiking and scrambling, will be on your left. If you intend to hike here, it is best to park your car just below the entrance to the village.
 * The road passes several good . For the scenic village of (Bilad Sayt), turn right at the junction. From here you can pick up the W8 trekking path, which eventually connects with W10h and W9.
 * The road continues its steep ascent until cresting at the . Although the area is very exposed, there are several decent spots to camp. At this point the road is now paved again, and descends for 25 km to the town of Al Hamra.

Trekking
There are a number of trekking routes in the Hajar Mountains, ranging in difficulty from easy 2-hour walks to challenging 10-hour hikes. Many trails follow ancient donkey paths and have been in use for centuries. The Oman Ministry of Tourism has begun waymarking many of these trails, with maps and descriptions available online; an overview map is available for download here, and detailed trail maps can be downloaded here and here. Two of the most popular (and easiest) trails include W6 (Abandoned Village Walk) and W18b (Village Walk). In general the trekking season runs from September to May, with the best months from October to April. Year-round trekking is possible at altitudes above 1900 m.

Oman Trekking is a collection of the above listed trails and maps, printed on heavy weather-proof cards by Explorer Publishing and available in English-language bookshops in Oman and in the UAE. Adventure Trekking in Oman by Anne Dale and Jerry Hadwin is also an excellent guide, although it is out of print and increasingly difficult to find.

Rock climbing
There are some excellent climbing locations in these mountains. Well-known areas are Wadi Bani Awf (described in the itinerary above) and the spectacular (near the UNESCO site of Bat and Wadi Al Ayn), with many routes still unmapped. Climbers should be aware that Oman has no mountain rescue service, and in case of medical emergency could be waiting a very long time for help, especially in more remote areas.

As of 2018, there were two via ferrata routes open at the Alila al Jabal al Akhder Hotel: a short, easy one, and one that takes about four hours.

The Wall, operated by Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, is Oman's only rock-climbing gym, and is a good place to get topographical maps and route information, as well as to find climbing partners.

Drink
Dehydration is always a risk. Bring plenty of water – plan on 3 litres per person per day.

Sleep
Aside from a handful of accommodations including those listed in the itineraries above, or in nearby Nizwa, the options for lodging are few and expensive, but include full board.

Wild camping is permitted anywhere outside of inhabited or cultivated areas; to camp near a village it is always best to ask permission first. Inexpensive, basic camping gear can be purchased at any of the hypermarkets in Muscat, and can also be rented from some tour outfitters.

Be cautious about camping in or near wadis, especially during the winter months, as flash floods are not uncommon. Nights can be chilly even in the summer, and in winter often drop to below 0°C. If sleeping in the open, be aware that scorpions and goats can be a nuisance.

Stay safe
Almost every year there are fatalities due to flash flooding – wadis can become raging torrents in a moment without warning. If the skies are overcast or cloudy, even if not in your immediate vicinity, it is always best to stay out. If camping in a wadi, be prepared to move your campsite if the sky looks even remotely threatening.

Mobile phone coverage in the mountains is spotty to non-existent, and there is no mountain rescue service. For particularly remote destinations, it is always wise to bring extra provisions.

title: Hajar Mountains