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Central Florida

Central Florida is a favorite destination for visitors due to theme parks, NASCAR races, natural springs, golf courses, and the NASA facilities that put a man on the moon.

Regions
The I-4 corridor overlaps the other two regions and links the major population centers of Central Florida, stretching from Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast, southwest through DeLand, Seminole County, Orlando, Lakeland, and into Tampa.

Climate
Winter temperatures decrease sharply going north as one leaves the semitropical central/southern Florida and enters the temperate regions of North Florida. Temperatures and humidity are generally very pleasant November through May. Though the sea may be too cold for locals to swim December through March, plenty of tourists still take a dip! While summer temperatures can be high and humidity palpable, the beach is still a great bet and many attractions have indoor portions, making a summer visit to Central Florida worthwhile, though afternoon rains can put a quick end to outdoor fun.

Talk
English is the official language of the state. However, the Spanish language is making inroads throughout the state. Native-born Floridians will usually speak in a New York/North Jersey-influenced accent.

By plane

 * Orlando International Airport - airport closest to Disney World and the surrounding attractions in East Central Florida. Located south of Downtown Orlando, this airport offers car rentals and free shuttles to Disney World for visitors.
 * Orlando Sanford International Airport - Located in Sanford, it's Orlando's secondary commercial airport and a base for Allegiant Air.
 * Tampa International Airport - airport closest to the beaches of the Gulf coast and Busch Gardens in West Central Florida.
 * Daytona Beach Int'l Airport - airport closest to the beaches of the East coast in East Central Florida.

Be aware that there are more airports throughout Central Florida which may get you closer to your destination; watch for these smaller airports while researching your destination.

By boat
Coastal cities have excellent year-round marina facilities, often serving large, luxury yachts. Port Canaveral on the Atlantic Coast and Tampa Bay on the Gulf Coast serve as cruise ports.

By train

 * AMTRAK Silver Star & Silver Meteor (Trains 91-92) and (Trains 97-98) respectively - serve Central Florida, both of which begin in New York and end in Miami. The two routes stop at the following stations in Central Florida: DeLand, Winter Park, Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Tampa, and Winter Haven.
 * Amtrak Auto Train offers service with its southern terminus in Sanford, about halfway between Daytona Beach and Orlando. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link to Florida from the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car to your destination in Central Florida after departing from the Auto Train.

By bus
Central Florida is served by Greyhound Bus Lines, which has scheduled stops in Orlando and other cities. The Greyhound routes connect with other major cities in the United States of America.

By car

 * I-95 runs north-south along the Atlantic coast throughout the entire Central Florida region. It connects with Jacksonville to the north and Miami to the south.
 * I-75 runs north-south through the middle-west of Central Florida, and connects to Ocala to the north, and Fort Myers in Southwest Florida.

By car

 * Interstate 4 spans nearly the entire Central Florida region, stretching from Daytona Beach, through Orlando, and ending in Tampa.

By train

 * SunRail - A commuter rail system connecting the Greater Orlando via Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties using existing Amtrak and CSX freight rail lines. The commuter rail line is roughly parallel to Interstate 4.

See

 * Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral
 * Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach
 * Florida Lighthouses are numerous and beautiful, take some time to visit these iconic images of the coast.

Eat
With two coastlines, seafood is extremely popular in Central Florida. Some favorite dishes in the area include:
 * Conch (pronounced "conk") - These chewy clams are served tenderized with lime juice, raw, and chopped in salad. Also chopped, breaded, and fried as conch fritters and in conch chowder (usually red and spicy).
 * Mahi Mahi - A firm, white fleshed fish; delicious when served grilled, blackened or Cajun-style.
 * Grouper - One of the mildest fishes available; served fried, blackened, broiled, or grilled as a main course. Fried grouper sandwiches are also popular.
 * Yellowfin Tuna - A firm, flavorful semi-dark meat fish often served grilled, broiled, or blackened.
 * Florida Lobster - Known as a spiny lobster, the Florida lobster has no claws like Maine lobster. Florida lobster tails are broiled and served with melted butter.

Drink
All the counties throughout Central Florida are "wet" counties. Alcoholic beverages are sold in both taverns and liquor stores. The Florida State Alcoholic Beverage Control (Police) frequently conduct raids for underage drinking in tourist areas, particularly during Spring Break. There are places in the area for clubbing mainly in Orlando and the beach tourist areas. There are also many biker bars around the area because of periodic motorcycle rallies.

Tropical drinks
Some tropical drinks that are popular in Central Florida, include:
 * Planters Punch - 1 oz. lemon juice, 1/2 oz. lime juice, 1 oz. passion fruit juice, 1 oz. pineapple juice, 1 1/2 oz. rum. Combine ingredients over shaved ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
 * Rum Runner - 1 1/2 oz. rum, 3/4 oz. blackberry brandy, 3/4 oz. creme de banana, splash of grenadine, splash of lime juice.
 * Bahama Mama - 1 oz. orange juice, 1 oz. pineapple juice, 1/2 oz. grenadine, 1/2 oz. rum, 1/2 oz. coconut flavored rum, 1 cup crushed ice. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.
 * Piña Colada - 1 shot rum, 2 oz. coconut milk, 3 oz. pineapple juice, 1 cup ice. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
 * Cuba Libre - 2 oz. rum, Coca Cola, lime wedge.

Stay safe
Central Florida is generally a very safe place to visit. The dangerous parts of town are not places the average tourist would be visiting.

Go next

 * North Florida has America's oldest city, St. Augustine
 * South Florida is home to the Everglades and the Florida Keys

title: Central Florida


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Central Gippsland

Central Gippsland is a region of Victoria, Australia, which includes the LGAs of Wellington and Latrobe.

Cities

 * — small mountain town with gold mining heritage
 * — small town with a rich local history
 * — commercial centre of the Central Gippsland region
 * — small coastal town on the Ninety Mile Beach
 * – small town on the Avon River with many parks and cafes to see, as well as a yearly Shakespeare festival
 * – this Latrobe Valley city holds some coal heritage

Other destinations

 * – small patch of temperate rainforest.

Get in
Traralgon and all other major settlements along the highway / train line can be reached from the state capital, Melbourne, via the Princes highway (M1) or via the V/line train and coach service. Trains and/or coaches run approximately every hour to 90 minutes.

See

 * Mt Tassie offers 360-degree panoramic views from the highest peak in the Strzelecki Ranges. You can see the mountains of the Great Dividing Range to the north, and Wilsons Prom to the south, as well as the Latrobe Valley Coal Fields.
 * Tyers Park has some wildflowers, birds and native animals that can be seen. Its outcrops of limestone and conglomerate are of considerable geological interest. The limestone contains both plant and animal fossils.

Eat
The food variety is fairly even in Central Gippsland, with towns such as Sale or Traralgon having more of a variety while other smaller towns such as Stratford may not have as much to offer. Nevertheless, the typical aspects of Australian cuisine, including the ethnic cuisines can be found in this region.

Go next
Wilsons Promontory National Park is about 1.5–2 hours' drive away.

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

title: Central Gippsland


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Central Greece

Central Greece (Greek: Στερεά Ελλάδα Sterea Ellada) is a traditional geographic region of Greece, colloquially known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη). It includes the southern part of the Greek mainland, excluding the Peloponnese but including the offshore island of Evvia (Euboea).

Regions
From east to west:

Cities

 * — modern Greek culture business and social life flourishes amidst ancient monuments of the birthplace of Classical Greece
 * — the capital of Evvia is home to the church of Saint Paraskevi, built by the Venetians
 * — site of the famous oracle of Apollo, major archaeological site
 * — a city inhabited since at least the 3rd millennium BC on the slopes of Mount Othrys

 * — a small seaside town that is a popular sea resort for travellers that stop on the way between Patras and Delphi
 * — the old port-town of the nearby temple in Delphi

Other destinations

 * — The mount was regarded as a principal abode of Apollo and the Muses.
 * — A narrow coastal passage, famous for the battle that took place there in 480 BC

Understand
In English, the area is usually called Central Greece, but the Greek name, Sterea Ellada, means "Continental Greece".

The region is one of the most mountainous in Greece, having some of the highest elevations in the country.

Roumelian dances tend to be slow and controlled. The clarinet is the main instrument in this region. The main dances of this region are tsamikos (in which the leader performs energetic leaps) and kleftiko, both influenced by the Arvanites of the region.

By plane
There are two airports in central Greece. The biggest one is in Athens.
 * Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
 * Aktion National Airport (Lefkada Airport "Aktion").

By boat
Piraeus is the main port for Athens, as it was in ancient times. Ferries from the Greek islands, Cyprus, and the Middle East dock here.

See
Athens is the starting point for exploring Ancient Greek history, from the archaeological sites of the Acropolis, the Roman Forum and the Temple of Olympuan Zeus to the National Archaeological Museum and dozens of other museums and art galleries, history is everywhere.

The archaeological district of Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage site composed of buildings including a temple, a theatre, a stadium, and an agora, and has a museum of atrefacts.

The archaeological museum at Thebes is one of the most important in the country.

Thermopylae is a narrow coastal passage north of Delphi that is famous for the battle that took place there in 480 BC.

Ossios Loukas Monastery is a historic monastery near Itea, listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Drink
Athens has the best nightlife of the region, if not the country. Hip areas include Gazi, Psirri, Metaxourgio, Exarcheia, Monastiraki, Theseion and Kolonaki. Traditional Greek evenings can be spent in Plaka.

title: Central Greece


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Central Guangxi

Central Guangxi is in Guangxi Province.

Cities

 * (崇左) - smaller city at the Zuojiang, with educational institutions a larger museum
 * - known for its landscape and a large waterfall
 * (桂平) - home of Xishan tea, Longtan National Forest Park, and the site of the Jintian Uprising (in the village of Jintian)
 * (龙州) - a rural town untouched by tourism and, together with Ningming town (宁明), starting point for boat tours to the Huashan rock paintings, a UNESCO world heritage from the Bronze Age
 * (南宁) - Guangxi's capital
 * (凭祥) - border town - gateway to/from Vietnam
 * (蒙山) the birthplace of wuxia novelist Liang Yusheng, also known for its Taiping Rebellion sites and Yao minority villages
 * (南宁) - Guangxi's capital
 * (凭祥) - border town - gateway to/from Vietnam
 * (蒙山) the birthplace of wuxia novelist Liang Yusheng, also known for its Taiping Rebellion sites and Yao minority villages
 * (蒙山) the birthplace of wuxia novelist Liang Yusheng, also known for its Taiping Rebellion sites and Yao minority villages

Get in
Nanning Wuxu International Airport

See

 * The Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site composed of rock paintings in the region. Some of these paintings are according to carbon dating estimated to be 16,000 years old. Can be reached by boat tours starting from Ningming or Longzhou.

title: Central Guangxi


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Central Gujarat

Central Gujarat is in India.

Cities

 * — Manchester of the East, commercial capital of Gujarat, home of Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram.

 * (The Milk City) — the administrative centre of Anand District.

 * — site of major Jain pilgrimage

 * — home of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who was popularly known as Iron Man of India.

 * (Cambay) — former port town at the bay of Khambhat.

 * (Kaira) — town located on the banks of the rivers "Vatrak" and "Shedhi". From here Gandhi launched a campaign against British taxes.

 * — a city where the Santaram Mandir (Hindu temple) is located.

 * — a village in Prantij Taluka in Sabar Kantha District of Gujarat State

 * (Baroda) — Cultured City, Oxford of Gujarat.

Understand
Central Gujarat is the home of the industrial cities like Ahmedabad and Vadodara (Baroda). Ahmedabad is known as the Manchester of the East, while Vadodara is known as the Oxford of Gujarat.

By plane

 * Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) airport is in the North Zone of Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is the only international airport in Gujarat with regular flights to and from London, New York, Chicago, Singapore, Muscat, Kuwait, Doha (Qatar), Sharjah and Dubai. Domestic flights connect to Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Indore and Kolkata (Calcutta).
 * Vadodara Airport is a major airport in Gujarat with daily flights to Delhi and Mumbai; and hopping flights to Bangalore (Bengaluru), Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

By road
Most of the highways that connect Gujarat with the rest of India goes through this region.
 * From Delhi, Agra and other places in the Plains: Take the National Highway 48 (NH 48).
 * From Mumbai, Jaipur, Jodhpur and other places in Western India: Take the National Highway 48 (NH 48).
 * From Indore, Bhopal and other places in Central India: Take the National Highway 47 (NH 47).

By train
There are trains from and to Mumbai (500 km) and New Delhi (1000 km) and other big cities of India several times a day going to Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

Get around
As in the rest of Gujarat, most people in this region travel by private buses or by taxi, although getting around by train is possible. Ahmedabad and Vadodara are big stations in the Indian Railways Network.

Go next

 * Daman — famous for the beaches, although most people arrive in this region for drinking alcohol.

title: Central Gujarat


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Central Gulf Coast

The Central Gulf Coast incorporates many popular beach destinations in Southern Thailand.

Cities

 * - historic town with temples and handicrafts

Other destinations

 * - archipelago of 60 or so islands NW of Ko Samui
 * - spoiled fishing village with some little-visited beaches
 * - tiny island near Ko Tao
 * - party island, but also some quiet beaches
 * - largest island off the southern Gulf Coast
 * - small island neighbour of Ko Samui, one of the best places in Thailand for diving
 * - for nature lovers
 * - for nature lovers

Get in
There are flights to Surat Thani from Bangkok (both airports, many times a day) as well as Kuala Lumpur and Chiang Mai.

Ko Samui has flights from Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Krabi, U-Tapao and Phuket. In addition, there are flights from Phnom Penh, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The smaller Nakhon Si Thammarat airport has flights from Bangkok (both airports) and Chiang Mai only.

The Central Gulf Coast is served by the Southern Line of the State Railways of Thailand (SRT). There are 10 departures per day for the 9-12 hour journey from Bangkok to Surat Thani, but not all have sleeper carriages. Note that Surat Thani station is also called Phun Phin station as it is half an hour away from Surat Thani city. The best train to take from Bangkok is the express train 85, leaving Bangkok at 19:30 and arriving Surat Thani (Phun Phin) at 07:06. This train has A/C sleepers and seats only. There is one later departure from Bangkok each day but this service (special express 39) does not have sleeper cars. Earlier departures from Bangkok will arrive at Surat Thani between midnight and 06:23. Cheaper options include train 167 (18:30-06:23) which has cheaper fan sleepers instead of A/C. If you prefer a daytime departure, Special Express 43 has only A/C seats departing Bangkok at 08:05 and arriving at Surat Thani at 16:45.

2 of the 10 trains that stop at Surat Thani also stop at Nakhon Si Thammarat, which is on a branch of the main Southern Line. Express train 85 (mentioned above) arrives here at 10:55.

Stay safe
Box jellyfish are a threat in certain regions.

Go next
Buses run from Surat Thani station to Khao Sok NP, Khao Lak, Krabi and Phuket.

Head south on the train to the Southern Gulf Coast and Malaysia

title: Central Gulf Coast


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Central Haiti

Central Haiti covers the central and eastern section of the country, and is home to the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Cities

 * (Pòtoprens) — the big chaotic capital that needs no introduction.
 * (Ench)
 * — a cool mountain retreat from the hectic life of Port-au-Prince.
 * — the wealthy side of Port-au-Prince, just to its south.
 * (Sen Mak) — a busy port serving the populous north central section of the country.
 * (Vèrèt) — a small city with low crime and a busy live music/nightlife scene.
 * (Vèrèt) — a small city with low crime and a busy live music/nightlife scene.

Other destinations

 * — Haiti's largest island is a nightmarish vision—the island is ecologically devastated and overpopulated with, essentially, the poorest of the poor who were forcefully relocated by the government to here from Port-au-Prince. Less than a third of the island's population has access to potable drinking water. There are no tourist attractions on this one-time tropical island paradise; no hotels.

Go next
Dominican Republic

Northern Haiti

Southern Haiti

title: Central Haiti


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Central High Country

The Central High Country is a sub-region of Georgia's Historic High Country region. The Central High Country consists of 7 counties north of Atlanta. The southern most counties are quickly growing as the metro Atlanta area expands while the northern counties are well suited for outdoor activities and tourism. Several of the towns hold a variety of annual festivals. Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona also provide amply opportunity for water sports and recreation. The largest city in this region is Gainesville while Ellijay and Dahlonega offer many opportunities for tourists.

Other destinations

 * Amicalola Falls
 * Chattahoochee National Forest

Get in
The major freeways that enter Central High Country are I-575, I-985 and Georgia 400.

Go next

 * Northwest High Country
 * West High Country
 * Northeast High Country
 * East High Country

title: Central High Country


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Central Highlands

There are Central Highlands in more than one part of the world. You could be looking for:

 * 1) Central Highlands (Guatemala) - in Guatemala.
 * 2) Central Highlands (Kazakhstan) - in Kazakhstan.
 * 3) Central Highlands (Queensland) - in Queensland, Australia.
 * 4) Central Highlands (Tasmania) - in Tasmania, Australia.
 * 5) Central Highlands (Vietnam) - in Vietnam.

Altopiani centrali del Guatemala

title: Central Highlands


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Central Highlands (Guatemala)

The Central Highlands is the region around Guatemala City, stretching northwards to the Northern Lowlands in Guatemala.

Cities

 * - The Guatemalan capital, Guatemala City is a center of industry and commerce. There aren't many attractions for tourists but visiting the museums and exploring the local markets aren't such a bad idea.
 * - It is a very different city in comparison to Guatemala City. It's quiet and filled with spectacular colonial buildings with lots of international flavor as well. This is the place where great majority of travelers choose to base themselves in Guatemala.
 * - Early colonial capital of Guatemala, before it was moved to Antigua, now a sleepy colonial village.
 * - Bustling commercial hub on the Pan-American Highway.
 * - Bustling commercial hub on the Pan-American Highway.

Other destinations

 * - Mayan ruins accessible from the Inter american highway in the Guatemalan west central highlands, an easy less than a day trip from Guatemala City or Antigua Guatemala. It lacks the impressive monumental art and architecture of the more famous larger Maya sites, but remains popular due to its convenient location and pleasant setting. United States President G.W. Bush visited the site on March 12, 2007. Fee: 50 quetzals per person.
 * - Mayan ruins around 60 km from Guatemala, but the road is very slow and you can expect to take around 2hr 30min to get there, by car. Take Calzada San Juan, and pass through San Pedro Sacatepéquez and San Juan Sacatepéquez. The road is straight forward, but signalization is almost non-existent. The ruins close at 4PM. Fee: Q5 for Guatemalans and Q50 for foreigners.
 * - Active volcano that has erupted dozens of times in recent centuries; part of the Central American volcano arc
 * - Huge cave system with underground rivers and up to 80 km of underground passages

Understand
The countryside around Antigua and Guatemala City is a spectacular landscape of volcanoes, forests of pines, meadows, corn fields and coffee plantations with occasional villages. It is well worth a visit. Looming over the capital is the Pacaya volcano which is one of the most active volcanoes throughout Central and South Americas.

The lush mountainous region of Alta Verapaz has an annual average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius with a rain fall of 178cm. Alta Verapaz is home to the Pokemchi and Kekchi mayan people groups. The capital of this area is Coban.

Get in
If you are arriving by air, you will be coming in from Aurora International Airport. To move on from the airport, you can either take scheduled shuttle buses to Antigua or taxis from outside of the terminal.

Get around
Guate City buses cost Q1 as of early 2007 and they offer a good way of getting around if you aren't heading through outlying slums.

Do
Since Guatemala's governmental system is centralized in Guatemala City, many national and international non-governmental organizations are based on the capital city as well. There are numerous foreign NGOs in Antigua also since Antigua is a hub of foreign volunteers. See those articles for information on volunteer opportunities.

Eat
Given the opportunity, most Guatemalans would opt for something besides the usual corn and beans with some occasional meat of some sort. Don't expect great cuisine there, but the food can be quite good.

Stay safe
Guatemala City has rather alarming rate of crime in some areas. Stay out of trouble by using plenty of common sense. In Zone 1, after dark, walk directly to places you want to go and know where you are going. In the Zona Viva (Zone 10), follow normal precautions anytime, including after dark. Don't get drunk in any of the nightclubs and then stagger back to your hotel. That could attract a would-be robber there.

Go next

 * Guatemalan Highlands

title: Central Highlands (Guatemala)


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Central Highlands (Kazakhstan)

The Central Highlands of Kazakhstan is a huge, sparsely populated region larger in area than Pakistan, consisting of the endless steppe of the Aktobe and Karagandy provinces, as well as the western half of East Kazakhstan Province (i.e., the Soviet-era Semipalatinsk Oblast).

Cities

 * — big city on the steppe, now rapidly developing as a center for the oil industry in northwestern Kazakhstan
 * Kandyagash- small town at rail junction, south of aktobe
 * — a small town and major stop on the Turkestan-Siberian Railway
 * — small city located on lake Balkhash about halfway between Astana and Almaty by bus
 * — a big Soviet coal mining city
 * — a Soviet-era atomic city (with the radiation levels to prove it), which earlier served as point of exile for one Fyodor Dostoevsky
 * — a medium sized mining city in western Karagandy Province, at what is nearly the exact center of the country
 * — a medium sized mining city in western Karagandy Province, at what is nearly the exact center of the country

Get in
Semey Airport

title: Central Highlands (Kazakhstan)


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Central Highlands (Vietnam)

The Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) of Vietnam are a distinct contrast from the tropical south, with an arid climate, rolling hills, and blue skies. The region sees few foreign visitors, and many of them go to revisit old battlefields or see the indigenous tribes.

Cities

 * – A good resting spot between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat
 * – The home of the most famous Vietnamese coffee
 * – The old French hill-station with "eternal" spring climate
 * – Where communal life centers around the towering rong-houses
 * – A small town near border crossing to Laos (Bo Y)
 * – Where communal life centers around the towering rong-houses
 * – A small town near border crossing to Laos (Bo Y)

Other destinations

 * - ride an elephant around the long houses of the Ede.

Understand
Besides the pleasant city of Dalat, it is the scenery and the ethnic minorities living here that draw travellers to this region. Although most people around here, different to their counterparts in the north-west highlands, only don their traditional clothing for special occasions, the shape and structure of the housings is much more diversified and striking. From long houses to bamboo huts, stilthouses and large communal houses, every region and ethnic has its own distinct style. Everyday life is the same simple agricultural routine, and you are likely to get invited for a mug of rice wine rather often.

By bus
Buses from the coastal cities of Nha Trang and Qui Nhon can get you to the region. Dalat is connected to every major city in Vietnam. Otherwise, you can take the bus to Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Gia Nghia, Da Lat, Bao Loc from Ho Chi Minh City. However, you have to bear in mind that the quality of those buses may not be good, except the route to Dalat which operated by Mai Linh Express.

Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat: Phuong Trang bus (high-quality) takes 10 hours and costs 210,000 dong. Phuong Trang collects passengers at hotels in Dalat, and can drop you off at D1 in Ho Chi Minh City. From Ho Chi Minh City, the bus leaves from their office in D5, and from Ben Xe Mien Tay (West coach station).

Da Lat to Nha Trang: Phuong Trang bus takes 4 hours and costs 130,000 dong. The road is very scenic with tall waterfalls in the rainy season. They collect/drop off passengers in both Dalat and Nha Trang.

Da Nang to Kontum: Minibuses leave regularly from Da Nang central bus station (159 Ton Duc Thang St) from 05:00-17:00. Trip takes 5 hr, costs 140,00-170,000 dong. Buses can get very crammed.

Da Nang to Pleiku (Gia Lai): Minibuses leave from Da Nang central bus station from 06:30-08:30 (every half hour), and again from 17:30-21:30 (every 15 or 30 minutes).

Da Nang to Buon Ma Thuot: Minibuses leave from Da Nang central bus station from 05:00-08:00 (every hour), and from 15:30-19:10 (every hour or half hour).

By plane
Mostly connections with Hanoi and HCMC — north to south:
 * near Pleiku
 * near Buon Ma Thuot
 * near Da Lat — has domestic connections to Da Nang, Vinh and Hue

Go next

 * Vietnam's Central Coast to the east
 * Southern Vietnam to the south

title: Central Highlands (Vietnam)


text:
Central Hungary

Central Hungary consists of only one county, Pest County. Budapest, the capital of the country, is the administrative center of the county, but constitutes a separate territorial unit.

Cities

 * — Western Gate of Budapest
 * — a small town with one of the largest Reformed churches
 * — shopping city, Roman Harbour Fort remains
 * — a suburb of Budapest
 * — the first capital, the seat of Constitutional Court and the Roman Catholic Church of Hungary, home of the biggest church in Central Europe.
 * — a town east of Budapest most famous for its former royal palace
 * — picturesque town on the Danube just north of Budapest
 * — a town on the Danube bend with several churches and lots of baroque architecture
 * — a town on the Danube bend with several churches and lots of baroque architecture

Get in
The area is well connected by bus and train with Budapest. All commuter lines (HÉV) except 'H7' reach the region. There are three-six commuter trains per hour on all lines, all directions. Logo is:

Get around
Budapest is the hub for almost all public transport lines. This means you sometimes must go first to Budapest and then back out to your destination, even that means a much longer journey.

Do

 * Swimming, angling at quarry lakes (Stay safe!)

Stay safe
The tap water is potable throughout the region.

There are some quarry lakes which are partly usable for swimming. There are also a few signposted nudist beaches in this region like Délegyháza (to the south) and Szigetmonostor to the north.

In hunting season (Oct to Feb), look for warnings about some closed areas in forests and hills of Pilis.

The hills are sometimes closed in the winter, due to slip hazards.

Go next

 * Central Transdanubia
 * Northern Hungary
 * Northern Great Plain
 * Southern Great Plain

title: Central Hungary


text:
Centralia

There is more than one place called Centralia:

Canada

 * Centralia (Ontario) — A town in Ontario.

United States of America

 * Centralia (Illinois) — A town in Illinois.
 * Centralia (Iowa) — A town in Iowa.
 * Centralia (Kansas) — A town in Kansas.
 * Centralia (Missouri) — A town in Missouri.
 * Centralia (New York) — A town in New York (state).
 * Centralia (Oklahoma) — A town in Oklahoma.
 * Centralia (Pennsylvania) — An abandoned town in Pennsylvania.
 * Centralia (Texas) — A town in Texas.
 * Centralia (Washington) — A town in Washington (state).
 * Centralia (West Virginia) — A town in West Virginia.

title: Centralia


text:
Centralia (Illinois)

Centralia is a city in Southern Illinois.

By car
U.S. 51 and IL 161 run through Centralia. IL 161 links the town to Interstate 57 to the east, while U.S. 51 links it to Interstate 64 to the south.

By train
Centralia is served daily by Amtrak via the Illini and Saluki services that run between Chicago and Carbondale. The station is also a flag stop for the City of New Orleans running between Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans.

title: Centralia (Illinois)


text:
Centralia (Pennsylvania)

Centralia is a borough and ghost town in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania, atop a mountain ridge north of Ashland and east of Mount Carmel.

History
Centralia was founded as "Bulls Head" in 1811; the 155 acre Centralia Borough was incorporated in 1862. The primary local industry was the extraction of anthracite coal. Many of the original workers were Irish; there was a long history of labour disputes. Ukrainian immigrants soon followed. The borough had nearly 3,000 people at its peak; there were 1,100 people in Centralia in 1962.

Centralia is now a ghost town with a population of less than five. An underground coal fire has been burning underneath the town since 1962. The full extent of the danger became known in 1979, and the town was abandoned between 1984 and 1992. In 1992, Pennsylvania claimed eminent domain over the remaining houses in the borough. The main highway has been re-routed away from the fire; most of the structures in the town have been demolished, leaving a damaged wasteland of empty streets.

Watch
Portions of the 2006 horror film Silent Hill were inspired by the story of Centralia as recounted to screenwriter Roger Avary by his father, a mine engineer; the picture is nominally set in West Virginia.

Get in
Centralia is two miles north of Ashland, Pennsylvania and can be reached on state highways 54 and 61. Part of the highway between Ashland and Centralia has been rerouted around the site of the fire.

Get around
You can drive around the highways. Most of the surface streets, however, are in poor condition.

See
The local government discourages tourism of the site, and occasionally demolishes points of interest. In particular, the "Graffiti Highway" (old Pennsylvania Route 61) was torn up in 2020.

Do

 * Walk along the old portion of the highway to see spots where smoke is coming out of cracks in the crumbling roadbed.

 * Drive around the streets of the old town. Most of the houses have been demolished but a few remain standing. A few people still live in Centralia despite the state having condemned the remaining houses, so respect their privacy and property.

Buy
There are no longer any stores in Centralia.

Eat
There are no longer any restaurants in Centralia.

Drink
There are no longer any bars or coffee shops in Centralia.

Sleep
No hotels are still standing in Centralia; try Ashland or Mount Carmel.

Connect
Centralia's postcode, 17927, was revoked by the US Postal Service on September 18, 2003; any mail for Centralia is held for pickup in Ashland.

Although locals and residents of neighboring towns get together for cleanup days and other local events, there are no newspapers. Centraliapa.org does write news articles about the latest happenings in the town.

Respect
As a few people still live here, some homes are still occupied. Please leave them undisturbed and refrain from adding to the vandalism and graffiti that less responsible visitors have created – both for the residents’ sake and for the sake of the next visitors to enter Centralia.

Stay safe

When the coal was originally mined, a few pillars of coal were left intact to prevent the ground above from collapsing into the mine. The fire has destroyed these pillars, leaving badly-damaged ground with huge cracks which release smoke, heat and toxic fumes. This makes much of Centralia very unsafe.

There were reports of police turning visitors away in early 2017; as of June 2017 the police were gone and the curiosity seekers were still present. Proceed at your own risk.

Go next
Nearby Ashland offers food, gas, lodging, and a coal mine tour at Pioneer Tunnel. The mine tour includes an underground mine tour, and an above-ground narrow gauge railroad ride to an old bootleg mine at a site where Centralia is visible at a distance. The same vein of anthracite that is burning underneath Centralia extends through Ashland and can be seen as part of the underground portion of the Pioneer Tunnel tour, although the fire at Centralia is not expected to threaten Ashland for several decades.

Mount Carmel also offers food, and is larger than Ashland.

Looking for an environmental disaster of comparable severity? Picher (Oklahoma), and one time zone to the west, is an abandoned town undermined by decades of lead extraction. The surface water is contaminated by mine tailings; a deadly tornado drove the last nail in Picher's coffin in 2008.

If Centralia wasn't enough to quench your thirst for underground fire pits, and you are willing to drive five hours in the desert in a country infamous for visa difficulties, Darvaza, the only other place in the world quite like Centralia, awaits.

title: Centralia (Pennsylvania)


text:
Centralia (Washington)

Centralia is a city in the Southwest Washington region of Washington State. It is a great place to stop for food and supplies when travelling between Seattle and Portland.

By car

 * I-5.svg: Centralia is just off of Interstate 5 (I-5) and is accessed from Exits #81 (Mellan St/City Center) & 82 (Harris Ave/Factory Outlet Way) from the northbound lanes. From the southbound lanes Centralia can be only be accessed from Exit #82. To get to Mellan St (where Exit/Mile Marker #81 is at) continue along the parallel lanes after exiting off at #82, follow the signs.

 * US 12.svg: Goes east through the mountains, south of Mt Rainier, towards Yakima from Exit 68 of I-5 and west to Aberdeen through Tenino from Exit 88 of I-5. Between Exits 68 and 88, US Hwy 12 goes along I-5 through Centralia and Chehalis.

 * WA-507.svg: Goes through town as Pearl St (SB) & Tower St (NB). At 6th St, north of downtown, Tower St joins Pearl where SR-507 continues north into the countryside towards Yelm. From the south end of the downtown core, SR-507 goes west as Cherry St which becomes Alder and then Mellan St and ends at its junction with I-5 (Exit #81). South of Cherry St, Pearl & Tower St merges and continues south as Kresky Ave towards Chehalis. On some parts of the way Kresky Ave splits with the southbound traffic going south as Gold St which becomes National Ave into Chehalis while northbound traffic remains on Kresky.

By train

 * Routes stopping in Centralia:
 * Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview),  Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany.  There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene.  No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Between Seattle and Eugene, it makes the same stops as the Amtrak Cascades, except it skips Tukwila and Oregon City.
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Between Seattle and Eugene, it makes the same stops as the Amtrak Cascades, except it skips Tukwila and Oregon City.

By bus

 * Rt #2 Goes from Tumwater Square along Old Hwy 99 SE to Tenino and east towards Rainier along Sussex Ave E
 * Rt #3 Goes from Tumwater Square along I-5 and Case Rd Sw to Grand Mound P&R (Exit #88 from I-5) and then west on US Hwy 12 to Rochester and the Chehalis Tribal Center on the Chehalis Indian Reservation.
 * Rt #4 goes from Centralia to Grand Mount P&R, to Tenino (Tenino Library), Bucoda and back to Centralia from Bucoda.
 * Rt #2 Goes from Tumwater Square along Old Hwy 99 SE to Tenino and east towards Rainier along Sussex Ave E
 * Rt #3 Goes from Tumwater Square along I-5 and Case Rd Sw to Grand Mound P&R (Exit #88 from I-5) and then west on US Hwy 12 to Rochester and the Chehalis Tribal Center on the Chehalis Indian Reservation.
 * Rt #4 goes from Centralia to Grand Mount P&R, to Tenino (Tenino Library), Bucoda and back to Centralia from Bucoda.

Buy
Shop in historic downtown. Enjoy a walk up and down Tower Ave, shopping in all the antiques. You’ll find many antique shops, craft stores, jewelry, and furniture shops.

 * The
 * The

Sleep
Most of the listed hotels in the below are located 2 mi (3.2 km) NW of town at Harris Ave & I-5 (Exit #82) surrounding the Factory Outlet Mall:

The following is located off of the Mellen St Exit of I-5 which is also the closest to the Greyhound station (exit #81):

The following are located downtown which accessible from exit #81 (Mellen St) or 82 (Harris Ave) and closest to the Amtrak stgation:

title: Centralia (Washington)


text:
Central Idaho

Central Idaho is in Idaho.

Other destinations

 * -- the first great ski resort in the U.S.
 * -- volcanic park with vast fields of seemingly lifeless lava, fun lava tubes to explore
 * Largest national recreation area in the United States
 * Largest national recreation area in the United States

title: Central Idaho


text:
Central Illinois

Central Illinois is a region of Illinois extending south from Chicagoland along the border with Indiana. It includes Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, McLean, and Shelby counties.

Cities

 * - state capital, historical attractions, and home US President Abraham Lincoln
 * - Home of Illinois State University and State Farm's Corporate Headquarters.
 * - home of the University of Illinois
 * - little prairie city, lots of outdoor activity
 * - home of beautiful Lake Decatur
 * - home to two small museums
 * - home to the Rantoul Aviation Center and Museum
 * - State capital, 1820-1839.
 * — the gateway to the Illinois Amish country
 * — home to the "world's largest" mailbox, chair, wind chime, yardstick, and golf tee

Understand
Central Illinois, depending on the context, generally refers to the area located south of Kankakee, east of I-39/i-55 and north of I-70. Some definitions will also include Western Illinois or have some slightly varied borders.

Central Illinois is perhaps most famous for agriculture. During the last ice age, glaciers leveled the land and left it highly fertile. Today, Central Illinois farms are a significant contributor to the Midwest's total output.

Culturally, the region is similar to Central Indiana and Northern Illinois and tends to be socially and culturally conservative with some notable exceptions, such as the college towns of Urbana, Champaign, Bloomington and Normal. While the area borders the Chicagoland region, most residents do not want to be associated with Chicago due to its perceived undue influence over the rest of the State.

In addition to agriculture, the region is reknowned around the State for being home to the State's two largest public universities: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal. The State's capital, Springfield, is also located in the region.

The region is also home to an Amish community, with the area around Arthur having the highest concentration of them, as well as smaller numbers in the areas surrounding Arcola, Sullivan and Tuscola.

Get in
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.

Stay safe
Watch out for tornadoes...

title: Central Illinois


text:
Central Indiana

Central Indiana is the central third of the state of Indiana, surrounding the Nine-County Region at the heart of the state.

By car
This is the area where "Crossroads of America" really comes into play. Numerous interstates and highways swarm into this area. I-65S from the northwest, I-74E from the west, I-70E from the southwest, I-65N from the south, I-74W from the southeast, I-70W from the east, and I-69S from the northeast. Indianapolis has a loop called I-465.

By bus

 * Greyhound
 * Anderson - Economy Inn, 2400 S. Scatterfield Rd. +1 765 642-3931
 * Indianapolis - 350 S. Illinois St. +1 317 267-3076
 * Megabus 1 877 G02-MEGA A super cheap way to travel by bus that was brought from Europe to the Midwest. Clean, friendly travel option. The earlier you book your trip the cheaper it is. All pickup/drop off points are at popular landmarks. Pickup/drop off from three points in Indy:
 * Indianapolis City Market - 222 E. Market St.
 * Circle Center Mall - 40 W. Maryland St.
 * Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 4790 W. 16th St.
 * Burlington Trailways 1 800 992-4618. Offers bus service throughout the Midwest. Pickup/drop off in Indianapolis.

By plane

 * Indianapolis International Airport

By train

 * Amtrak 350 S. Illinois St., Indianapolis.

Eat
The largest concentration of restaurants can be found in Kokomo and Lafayette.

Drink
With the dining comes the drinking—you'll find most nightlife in Central Indiana in Kokomo and West Lafayette as well.

title: Central Indiana


text:
Central Inner Mongolia

Central Inner Mongolia is in China.

Cities

 * (赤峰; Chìfēng)
 * (二连浩特; Èrliánhàotè)
 * (丰镇; Fēngzhèn)
 * (集宁; Jíníng)
 * (通辽; Tōngliáo)
 * (锡林浩特; Xīlínhàotè)
 * (锡林浩特; Xīlínhàotè)

Get in
Chifeng Yulong Airport, Tongliao Airport , Xilinhot Airport.

Get around
The train network covers most towns and cities even in remote parts. And if there are no trains, there are always buses.

Sleep
One possibility is to try a Mongol homestay. But be careful. Sometimes, "Mongol homestay" may just as well mean "sleep in a plastic yurt with Han-Chinese package tourists" as actually staying with a Mongolian family. Actually, it is probably more likely to end up in a fake homestay than a real one if you don't use a reputable operator or get lucky.

title: Central Inner Mongolia


text:
Central Interior (Uruguay)

The central interior of Uruguay includes the departments of Cerro Largo, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja and Treinta y Tres. The Central Interior has rolling hills, cow country, lakes, history, a border with Brazil, and more—including lovely, quiet spots for a visit.

Cities

 * – small town with a historic estancia ranch nearby
 * – something of a hub as it's centrally located in the middle of the country
 * – best known for the annual pilgrimage of San Cono
 * – a small town
 * – capital of Cerro Largo Department
 * – a hidden gem with beautiful countryside sunsets and ranches, but also with nearby outdoor adventures, as well as a Buddhist monastery and picturesque picnic sites at the lake for travellers in search of tranquility
 * – a border town just across a river from Brazil
 * – capital of the department of the same name
 * – an unremarkable town out of a sketch book, but with the interesting Grutas del Palacio nearby
 * – a small railway town
 * – idyllic, relaxing vacation town in the hills

Other destinations

 * (near Treinta y Tres) - considered the most beautiful national park in Uruguay.
 * (near Durazno) - A huge hydroelectric power station with a large artificial lake popular for fishing. It is possible to visit the interior of the station.
 * (near Durazno) - A huge hydroelectric power station with a large artificial lake popular for fishing. It is possible to visit the interior of the station.

By bus
Most (but not all) bus routes begin or end in Montevideo. For buses that do start or end in Montevideo, you can find schedules at the Tres Cruces Bus Terminal website. For other buses, such as the Nossar line from Colonia to Trinidad and Durazno or the Tureste line from Maldonado to Treinta y Tres, you'll just have to ask around or look at individual bus companies' websites.

By car
Highways crisscross the region, providing good connections with Montevideo and decent to good connections with other parts of the country. You can also drive from Brazil, crossing the bridge between Jaguarão and Río Branco.

By plane
Fly into Carrasco International Airport outside of Montevideo. If you're going to the eastern departments of Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, and Lavalleja, you can probably catch an intercity bus at the airport. Otherwise, take a bus to Tres Cruces terminal in Montevideo and get an intercity bus from there.

By bus
If you're trying to travel between two places that are more or less on a straight line from Montevideo, like Florida and Durazno or Treinta y Tres and Río Branco, buses should be frequent and convenient. Otherwise, you'll probably have to change buses, and in many cases the easiest way to get from one city to another may be to transfer in Montevideo.

By car
Probably more convenient if you plan to explore the region in depth. Some rural attractions are not served by bus routes.

Eat
Minas is known for its alfajores, a very sweet dulce de leche cookie sandwich. Alfajores are available throughout Uruguay (and in various other Spanish-speaking countries), but true aficionados say the best ones are found in the Minas area. If you're taking a bus that goes through Minas, look out for vendors getting on board to sell this famous local product.

Go next

 * Atlantic Coast – fantastic beaches ranging from glamorous Punta del Este to rustic Cabo Polonio
 * Northern Interior – gaucho culture at its finest, as well as lively border towns like Salto and Rivera
 * Rio de la Plata – from the capital city of Montevideo to the smaller historic towns of Colonia and Fray Bentos
 * Rio Grande do Sul – cross the border at Río Branco/Jaguarão to start exploring Brazil's rich and varied culture and landscape

title: Central Interior (Uruguay)


text:
Central Iowa

Cradled between the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers, Central Iowa is a region with surprising variation, culture, and opportunity oft overlooked by the outside world. The western and eastern edges of this region are defined by the Lœss Hills, which give way to the rolling hillsides and wine regions of Côtes du Des Moines and Côtes du Iowa. Between these great rivers are the gentle plains of the Skunk River valley, home to the research powerhouse of Ames. At the southern end of the region the pastoral landscape gives way to the sprawling metropolitan region of Des Moines.

Cities

 * - A prominent college town and research center, home to Iowa State University.
 * - A suburban community on the northern edge of the Des Moines metro region.
 * - Home of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and the closest town to scenic Ledges State Park.
 * - The state capital and Iowa's largest city.
 * - Home of esteemed liberal arts institution Grinnell College.
 * - Former headquarters of the Maytag Washing Machine Company.
 * - Home of Pella Windows, Vermeer Manufacturing, and the annual Pella Tulip Festival.
 * - Former headquarters of the Maytag Washing Machine Company.
 * - Home of Pella Windows, Vermeer Manufacturing, and the annual Pella Tulip Festival.

Understand
This region includes the counties of Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Madison, Warren, and Marion.

Do

 * - located in Altoona

Drink
The Côtes du Des Moines area on the western edge of Central Iowa is well known for its wine growing. The bluffs of the Des Moines River provide good drainage and a unique microclimate that shields the Côtes du Des Moines from the worst cold and heat of Iowan seasons. Wines here will be somewhat unfamiliar to many travelers as they are made primarily with Vitis riparia grapes, also known as the Frost Grape. Developed by the University of Minnesota to withstand the local climate, popular varietals include Boule de Poils (similar to Sauvignon Blanc), Marechal Foch, and Frontenac.

title: Central Iowa


text:
Central Iran

Central Iran lies at the heart of the country, home to major cities and travel destinations like Shiraz and Isfahan, the capital Tehran, and the holy city of Qom.

Other destinations

 * — the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and home to the Tomb of Cyrus.
 * — a historical site 60 km north of Shiraz that used to be a ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC.

Understand
Two great deserts extend over much of central Iran: the Dasht-e Lut is covered largely with sand and rocks, and the Dasht-e Kavir is covered mainly with salt. Both deserts are inhospitable and virtually uninhabited. The city of Yazd is in an oasis between the two.

title: Central Iran


text:
Central Isaan

Central Isaan is a region of Thailand. Geographically it is part of the Chi River Basin.

Cities

 * - large city and the end of the highway from Bangkok
 * - large city and the end of the highway from Bangkok
 * - large city and the end of the highway from Bangkok
 * - large city and the end of the highway from Bangkok

Get in
Khon Kaen can be reached from Bangkok or Nong Khai (for Vientiane) on the northeastern train line. The journey from Nong Khai takes 2-3 hours, and 7-9 hours from Bangkok. There are 4 trains a day in either direction.

Go next
Take the train up to Nong Khai and head into Laos.

title: Central Isaan


text:
Central Italy

Central Italy contains several distinctive regions that have played a formidable role not only in Italian history, but in world history, as the centres of the Etruscan and Roman civilizations and of the Holy See of the Catholic Church.

Cities

 * — called the "Eternal City", this modern capital of Italy was the seat of ancient Rome's power and remains the world headquarters of the Catholic Church. This great walking city features the Vatican, the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Campidoglio and hundreds of great churches.
 * — there is so much culture and history packed into this city that there is a name for the cultural overload some visitors experience here: "Stendhal syndrome"!
 * — the capital of Latina Province of Lazio, it was inaugurated in 1932 under Mussolini and is mostly notable for some Fascist architecture
 * — a charming medium-sized walled, cobblestoned city with some notable artistic attractions, schools and the Perugina chocolate factory
 * — birthplace of Gabriele D'Annunzio, this modern city is rich in culture, art and traditions
 * — the city of the Campo dei Miracoli, which includes the famous Leaning Tower
 * — a charming medium-sized walled, cobblestoned city with some notable artistic attractions, schools and the Perugina chocolate factory
 * — birthplace of Gabriele D'Annunzio, this modern city is rich in culture, art and traditions
 * — the city of the Campo dei Miracoli, which includes the famous Leaning Tower

Other destinations

 * - Capital of the white "Verdicchio" wine

Understand
This region of Italy was settled very early. Quite a number of the more beautiful towns in what are now Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio started their existence as Etruscan hill cities. Later, the ancient Romans, from their base in Rome, expanded into the Etruscan lands and conquered these cities.

As part of Medieval and Renaissance Italy, the Tuscan cities of Florence, Siena and Pisa vied for power and a monopoly over European trade with Asia. Most of the rest of this area was under the control of the Pope as part of the Papal States, except for most of Abruzzo, which was part of the Kingdom of Naples and then the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, initially under the control of France and then for hundreds of years prior to Italian unification, under the control of Spain.

In historical terms, Florence is second only to Rome in the history of this part of Italy, as the city of Dante, Petrarch, Donatello, Giotto, Michelangelo, and many other important figures of the Italian Gothic and Renaissance. In fact, Florence is considered to have started the Renaissance, and because its writers were so important, it is the Tuscan form of literary Italian that was taken as the standard language of the entire country.

In terms of tourism, too, the cities in this part of the country that are on nearly everyone's whirlwind "Italy in one week" list are Rome and Florence. However, though those cities are so full of things to see and do that you could spend months or more visiting sights there and not exhaust them, there is so much else to see, including not only the other cities mentioned or listed above but also a myriad of pleasant small towns and gorgeous countryside, country estates and gardens like those of the Villa d'Este in Tivoli and the Medici villas outside of Florence, Etruscan remains, such as the necropoli near Tarquinia and stelae on display in several archaeological museums including the ones in Arezzo and Volterra, hot springs (terme in Italian), pleasant mountains, and two coasts.

Talk
These regions of Italy have maintained their different dialects and accents since Italian unification in 1871, but if you speak Italian, you are unlikely to have much trouble understanding people throughout the area. But don't expect everyone to speak English, even in Rome. People will try their best to help you, but they will definitely appreciate any attempt to speak some Italian.

Go next

 * Northern Italy
 * Southern Italy

title: Central Italy


text:
Central Java

Central Java is the heartland of Javanese culture. This page covers the central third of the island of Java, encompassing the two provinces of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Cities

 * — the nearest large town to Borobudur with a splendid history from the Mataram period
 * — a Batik city has become a part of UNESCO Creative Cities
 * — the gateway to Baturaden Park (12 km from the peak of Mount Slamet) and the mighty Mount Slamet
 * — the capital of Central Java province, an ancient seaport with preserved colonial legacies
 * (also called Surakarta) — a bustling city that has retained its authentic traditional Javanese nature
 * — a lively north coast town with a strong colonial past
 * — the heritage city of Java and a semi-autonomous sultanate, in Yogyakarta Special Region

Other destinations

 * — the world's largest Buddhist monument
 * — volcanic highland plateau with the oldest temples in Indonesia
 * — beautiful beaches, in Yogyakarta Special Region
 * — an ancient geological national geopark site in Kebumen, Central Java region
 * — a marine park of 27 islands, well off the beaten track
 * — a perennially active and spectacular volcano
 * — just north of Mount Merapi
 * — a beach to the south of Yogyakarta
 * — a collection of awe-inspiring Hindu temples

History
Central Java has been inhabited by humans since the prehistoric era. Remains of a Homo erectus, known as "Java Man", were found along the banks of the Bengawan Solo River, and date back to 1.7 million years ago. The present-day Central Java was once under the control of several Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, Islamic sultanates, and the Dutch East Indies colonial government. Central Java was also the centre of the Indonesian independence movement. As the majority of modern-day Indonesians are of Javanese descent, both Central Java and East Java have a major impact on Indonesia's social, political, and economic life.

Culture
Javanese culture is very close to Central Java. Pertunjukan Wayang (Javanese puppet show) is one of the traditional performances that can be enjoyed regularly in several big cities, either wayang kulit in Yogyakarta or wayang wong in Semarang and Solo which are always accompanied by gamelan, a traditional Javanese musical instrument.

Javanese dance is commonly involving slow movements and graceful poses. It has somewhat of a meditative quality and tends to be more self-reflective, introspective, and oriented toward self-understanding. Sendra Tari Ramayana (Ramayana Ballet) is an annually traditional Javanese dance performance conducted in Prambanan.

Religion
Islam is the majority religion in Central Java at about 97% of the population, with Christianity in second place at about 2%, and the rest is a smattering of other religions.

Read

 * Java: Guide to Borobudur & Prambanan, Approach Guides. Detailed tours of Borobudur and Prambanan including art and architecture reviews also advice for getting the best cultural experience.
 * Javanese Culture, Koentjaraningrat. Detailed accounts of Javanese history, peasant and urban culture, religion, and values and symbols.
 * Batik, Traditional Textiles of Indonesia, Rudolf Smend. Having collected historical batik for over thirty years and published two books on the subject, Rudolf Smend has invited his friend and fellow batik specialist Donald Harper to contribute to this publication as well. They represent an exquisite cross-section of the batik production of Java--the most important batik-producing region in the world.

Climate
The average temperature in Central Java is between 22–32 °C (71–89 °F) and the relative humidity varies between 60% and 95%. The highest average annual rainfall of 3,990 mm with 195 rainy days. The cooler area in Central Java are Bandungan, Dieng Plateau, Kopeng, and Tawangmangu.

Time
Central Java is in the UTC+7 time zone (known in Indonesia as WIB, Waktu Indonesia Barat), the same as Thailand and Vietnam.

Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 220 V, 50 Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types.

Tourist information

 * Central Java Province
 * Special Region of Yogyakarta Province
 * Special Region of Yogyakarta Province

Talk
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is the official language of education and business. The majority of Central Java's population also speaks Javanese, a related but mutually unintelligible language. In the southwest of the region, near the boundary with West Java, Sundanese is also spoken. English and sometimes other European languages are widely understood in the major tourist areas.

Javanese script also appears on street name signs and signboards for various places including airports and markets, especially in Solo and Yogyakarta.

By plane
The busiest airports in the region are Yogyakarta's Adisucipto Airport, Yogyakarta International Airport , Semarang's Achmad Yani Airport , and Solo's Adi Sumarmo Airport. They are well connected with domestic flights to Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Bandung and Denpasar (Bali) among others. In addition, the airports all have international connections to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, with Yogyakarta and Semarang also linking to Singapore Changi Airport.

Smaller airports are in Cilacap, Purbalingga , Cepu with flights to Jakarta and Karimunjawa  with flights to Semarang and Surabaya.

By train
Purwokerto, Yogyakarta, Solo and Semarang are well connected to other cities by rail serviced by Kereta Api Indonesia, providing classes for all budgets. Cities and towns in Central Java often have more than one station, a legacy of the many private railway lines of the colonial era.

By bus
Frequent interprovincial buses (named AKAP for Antar Kota Antar Provinsi, intercity/interprovince) connect many cities in Central Java with cities in Western Java and East Java. There are also a few long-distance buses to Sumatra and Bali.

By boat
Semarang's Tanjung Emas port has services to ports in Kalimantan, including Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Kumai, Ketapang and Sampit.

By train
The region is well served by trains with two main lines, one along the north coast linking Blora, Cepu, Grobogan, Pekalongan, Semarang, and Tegal, with stops in between. The southern line links Solo and Yogyakarta with Purwokerto, Kebumen, and small towns on the south coast. Both lines continue through to Jakarta in the west and Surabaya in the east. The loop line Joglosemarkerto train connects the north coast to the south coast of Central Java. The trains are comfortable and run to schedule.

The electric multiple units (EMU) serve the route from Yogyakarta to Solo and vice versa. It is operated by KAI Commuter. The schedule is from 05:00 to 19:00 with a 1- to 2-hour departure break.

The line in the northeast of the region linking Semarang with Jepara and Kudus is long-disused despite still being shown on many maps.

By bus
Buses are widespread, servicing cities (named AKDP for Antar Kota Dalam Provinsi, intercity in the province), towns and to a lesser extent, rural areas. There is a public bus called TransJateng bus which serves some areas in Central Java.

By car
The region's road network is in modest condition, as the toll road from the west to east in Central Java has been finished. Most inter-city roads are still two-lane affairs of variable quality.

Having said that, the car is a convenient way to cover some of the large distances in the region. Hiring a car with a driver can be cost-effective if you are in a group, and allow more flexibility to get off the beaten track.

For one of the ubiquitous Toyota Avanzas (or similar size compact MPV) expect to pay in the region of Rp650,000 (in town) or Rp900,000 per day (out of town) per day, all-in i.e. driver's fee, all parking and toll costs, petrol, and food and accommodation for the driver. This will carry five people, without large amounts of luggage. For the larger Toyota Innova (or equivalent) budget another Rp100,000 per day.

By taxi
There are taxi services in all cities and large towns. In general, the standard is satisfactory. Meters are fitted and will mostly be used. Most will be happy to take a longer job, either on the meter or by agreed price, and wait for you while you do some sightseeing or go shopping.

Taxis are licensed for a defined area, which may be quite large and cover some of the hinterlands outside the town or city where they are based. It might be an option for a day of out-of-town sightseeing.

Taxis are normally happy to take fares to neighbouring towns or cities, sometimes with a defined surcharge if it is a longish distance. They will usually not be able to operate in that city though, when they arrive, so will need to drop you at your specified destination and then head straight out of town again.

Some taxi companies in the region have fleets of the compact MPVs rather than sedans, which are useful if travelling in a bigger group, or you just want more leg room.

By ojek
Motorcycle taxis are common all over Central Java. Where ojeks really come into their own when travelling through the province is to get to some rural places that a car might not make it to: a hidden temple, beach, or some such. A lot of Java's (especially Central Java's) ugliest development takes place by the side of the major roads – driving along can be a dispiriting experience of unfinished concrete draped with tatty advertising banners. But head off the road, even just one kilometre, and you could be in a tranquil, green haven of rice terraces and clay-tiled villages. Consider using an ojek to make the break.

By ride-hailing services
The taxi and ojek industries have been rocked by the rise in smartphone apps allowing ride-hailing. Go-jek and Grab operate in many cities and large towns in Central Java.

It is worth getting an Indonesian SIM card with data to allow you to use them. Also consider learning enough Indonesian or Javanese to talk to the driver who will normally call you straight after accepting the job, to confirm your location.

By becak
Becak (BAY-cha') are pedicabs used for travelling short distances in places such as residential areas and around traditional markets. The driver sits behind the passenger and turns the pedals. They are found in all towns and cities in Central Java. Becaks are the most expensive means of transit but are good value for money considering the human effort that goes into it. Good communication skills are vital to prevent getting overcharged. Agree on the cost beforehand, and haggle for the best price.

By boat
Ferries to the Karimunjawa archipelago leave from Jepara, Semarang and Kendal, just to the west of Semarang.

Pre-colonial sights
The region is best known for its two A-list UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Borobudur is an ancient Buddhist stupa and temple complex dating from the 9th century, and is the single most visited attraction in Indonesia. That brings with it some issues and the site can be over-run. Visitors keen to really enjoy the undoubted magnificence of Borobudur should consider staying the night in the area and visiting early the following morning before the hordes of day-trippers arrive. There is a growing choice of accommodation in Borobudur village itself, and sunrise entrance packages to the candi are available.

No less impressive is the Hindu temple complex at Prambanan dating from the same period. The huge, imposing candi rise 40 to 50 metres in height and make for a truly awe-inspiring spectacle. Prambanan was tragically damaged by a major earthquake in May 2006 but the site is open again as restoration work continues.

The nearby Queen Boko Palace was an 8th-century giant and complete Javanese palace and now stones that once support its structures, still standing in its former glory. It has magnificent views down over Prambanan.

Both Borobudur and Prambanan are easily combined with a visit to the ancient city of Yogyakarta, and these three destinations account for the vast majority of visitor arrivals in the region. Yogyakarta is the undoubted cultural capital of Java with a wonderful palace (kraton) and many historical attractions.

Demak on the north coast of Central Java, is the home of one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, Masjid Agung (lit. "Great Mosque"), as well as Sunan Kalijaga Cemetery. Nearby Semarang is home to several Buddhist, Hindu and Confucian temples, as well as mosques and churches, and nearby Bandungan offers the historic Gedung Songo (lit. "9 Buildings") temple complex, which has 9 Hindu shrines in it, as well as various activities for families and hikers to enjoy.

Pre-historic site
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sangiran Early Man Site in Sragen near Solo. Sangiran is recognized by scientists to be one of the most important sites in the world for studying fossil man. Pithecanthropus erectus ("Java Man", now reclassified as part of the species Homo erectus), were found here.

Colonial architecture
Old Semarang, the original part of the city has many Dutch-era buildings; Lawang Sewu (lit. "1,000 doors"), located at the Tugu Muda roundabout intersection (which is also home to a museum and a government office) in Semarang, is a large complex of Dutch buildings featuring stain glass windows and numerous doors which was used by the military, the Japanese during their World War II occupation of Indonesia, and prior to that the Dutch as the office of the railway system, prison, hospital, and barracks. Supposedly, Lawang Sewu is haunted by over 30 different supernatural beings but you must be very talented to see even one after surveying the entire grounds from the foundation to attics and water towers! Also, the old town Kota Lama presents buildings with numerous architectural variations from the colonial era.

Steam trains
Perhaps more for aficionados of steam, but there is a good collection of steam locomotives in Central Java. The best collection is in the railway museum in Ambarawa just south of Semarang, which are run from time to time. There are also some in at the forestry museum in Cepu, remnants of the teak logging industry. The sugar cane factories also used to use them. On high days and holidays, a steam locomotive runs up and down the main street in Solo.

Natural sights
The Dieng Plateau is a little off the beaten path. This volcanic highland plateau north of Wonosobo is home to the oldest standing structures in Indonesia (Hindu temples dating from the 8th century). But it is the scenery that draws most visitors here. Spectacular conical volcanoes, steaming sulphurous pools and eerie mountain lakes make for an almost other-worldly landscape, not to mention the severe environmental damage being done by intensive agriculture.

Getting out into nature
Let's be realistic, Central Java is one of the most densely populated parts of the planet. Pretty much everything you see in Central Java will have been touched by the hand of humankind. The most you can hope for will be getting out to somewhere green, away from the unfinished concrete and bright yet fading paint jobs of the towns.

Climbing volcanoes
Heading up a mountain is one way to see some nature, and Central Java offers some spectacular options. There are five volcanoes in the province in the high category, which means over 3,000 m in elevation and 1,000 m prominence above the surrounding landscape. These are Slamet, Sumbing, Sindoro, Merbabu and Lawu (shared with East Java). Merapi and Ungaran are medium, being between 2,000 m and 3,000 m in elevation and with over 1,000 m of prominence. Mount Muria on the north coast is in a lower category, having an altitude between 1,000 m and 2,000 m and more than 1,000 m of prominence. Mount Prau near the Dieng Plateau, and Mount Telomoyo, and the outlier of the Merbabu massif are also interesting and make exciting hikes.

Waterfalls
With plenty of mountains and plenty of rain, there are bound to be plenty of waterfalls. Within striking distance of Semarang alone, you can choose from the mighty Curug Sewu in Kendal, Curug Lawe and Curug Semirang in Ungaran, also the famous, Grojogan Sewu in Tawangmangu. Many more remain to be discovered. Just ask around for the nearest curug (CHOO-roog).

Textiles

Batik if, of course, the pre-eminent cloth of Java, and there will be opportunities to buy wherever you turn. But batik is not the only cloth being made in the region.

In Klaten, between Yogyakarta and Solo, the striped cotton cloth known as lurik is still being woven, in traditional narrow bands, often on back looms. You will most frequently see it, mostly blue or black, being used by market traders to strap their baskets to their backs. You will also see Javanese men in traditional dress wear it with broader stripes in the surjan jackets.

Around Jepara, especially the village of Troso, there are weavers using jacquard looms and also making cloths using the ikat process.

There is an increasing amount of dyeing being done with natural rather than chemical dyes. On the coast, you might find batik dyed in the soft browns and greens derived from mangrove leaves.

One lurik producer working in traditional and modern colours is:

Coffee and tea
There is a lot of excellent coffee grown in Central Java, both arabica and robusta. The area around Temanggung is particularly noted as a coffee growing area, but it will be found growing wherever the altitude is high enough.

Traditionally, the preference has been for a very dark roast, with beans ground superfine to a powder. This has sometimes made it difficult to differentiate between styles, but things are changing. Small producer groups are starting up, preparing different levels of roast and grind, and packing airtight to preserve freshness. Look out for suppliers working with local farmers on just about any volcano you go to. One brand to look out for is:

You may be offered the fabled kopi luwak, from beans pre-digested by palm civets, while you are in the region. It is almost impossible to validate whether what you are being offered has been processed by truly wild civets, or even by any civet at all. Be aware that kopi luwak is also produced from caged civets in unnatural and unhealthy conditions. Please think twice before buying.

Tea is less widespread but there are a number of plantations across the province, on the slopes of Mount Lawu, Mount Slamet and the Dieng Plateau. It should be possible to buy loose-leaf tea from any of them. Tea from the Tambi plantation near the Dieng Plateau comes in attractive boxes decorated with wayang figures.

Upcycling
Indonesia is drowning in garbage. Innovative craftspeople are using some of it to make attractive and useful items - wallets, bags, and jewellery, for example. They are using car tyres, old mobile phones, discarded clothes, plastic shopping bags, used oil drums, and so on. Also handicrafts from water hyacinth which is a weed in Lake Rawapening, Ambarawa. Sometimes the producers are local communities who have received training, and all of the proceeds go back into the local community.

Horn
Magelang has some crafters working with cow and buffalo horn. Items start from small simple bowls and spoons, through larger rice scoops and hair pins, up to extravagant statuettes for the coffee table. The sellers and stalls around the Borobudur complex of candi always have a good selection, but you'll need to haggle as though your life depends on it.

Stone carving
If you have a very generous luggage allowance you may like to pick up a Buddha or other statuette carved from the volcanic stone of Merapi. The villages of Muntilan and Mungkid on the road between Magelang and Jogja are the places to look. At the very least, buy a proper Javanese cowék (CHOH-weh') and munthu (MOON-too), the Javanese mortar and pestle.

Food souvenirs
Look out for the distinctive oleh-oleh from each part of the region:
 * Bakpia (bah'-PEE-yah) — the small, sweet pastry filled with mung bean paste from the Pathok district of Jogja.
 * Bandeng presto — on the other hand, you'll be clutching a bag of these pressure-cooked milkfish, as you board the bus out of Semarang.
 * Enting-enting gepuk — Salatiga peanut snack.
 * Getuk — a Javanese sweet dish made from cassava. The famous are Getuk Trio from Magelang and Getuk goreng from Purwokerto.
 * Jenang — palm sugar and coconut milk fudge from Kudus.
 * Lanting — a traditional Kebumen snack made from cassava that has been crushed, seasoned and subsequently fried.
 * Lumpia Semarang (LUMP-ee-ya) — Semarang's largish spring roll, heavy on the bamboo shoots.
 * Sale pisang — sweet banana dish from Cilacap.
 * Telur asin Brebes — Brebes salted duck egg.
 * Wingko Babat — if you had a spare hand, you'd have a box of this grilled coconut and sticky rice cake.

Eat
The food of Central Java is renowned for its sweetness, and the dish of gudeg (GOO-duhg), made from jackfruit, is particularly sweet. Yogyakarta is renowned for its ayam goreng (fried chicken) and klepon (KLUH-pon), green rice-flour balls with palm sugar filling. Surakarta's (Solo) specialities include nasi liwet (rice with coconut milk, unripe papaya, garlic and shallots, served with chicken or egg) and serabi (coconut milk pancakes topped with chocolate, banana or jackfruit). Some insist that in a country of interesting cuisine, the best hails from Central Java. That may or may not be the case, but several wonderful dishes originate from this region. These include:

 * Gudeg — a coconut-infused stew of young jackfruit, chicken and hardboiled eggs with a subtle sweet and savoury taste. Vendors all seem to have their own secret recipes, but the flavour base usually includes bay leaf, coriander, candlenut, onion, garlic, galangal, ginger, palm sugar, and unusually, teak tree leaves. This is a Yogyakarta speciality. Best tried in Yogyakarta but you will find it elsewhere. The side dish of gudeg is sambel krecek, cow or water buffalo skin crackers cooked in spicy coconut milk sauce.
 * Lumpia Semarang — spring rolls could almost be the national dish of Indonesia, and the Semarang variety is one of the very best. Fillings vary but always include bamboo shoots. The dipping sauce might be sticky brownish garlic sauce and eaten with whole young scallion.
 * Mangut — a spicy coconut milk-based smoked fish soup. The fish which are often used, iwak p (stingrays), manyung (ariidae), and lele (airbreathing catfish).
 * Nasi Bogana — this convenient dish has almost fast food status across Indonesia these days, but it originated from Tegal on the northern coast of this region. White rice accompanied by a whole host of other possibilities is tightly wrapped in a banana leaf packet. It can then be heated by steaming at any time inside the packet - hence the convenient fast food tag. Accompanying dishes could be chicken curry, tempeh (fermented soya beans), tofu, egg, dendeng (spicy beef jerky), chicken livers... the list goes on. Most likely is a combination of them all. If you are travelling on a budget, keep an eye out for Nasi Bogana street hawkers in any city or town.
 * Opor ayam — chicken cooked in coconut milk, usually eaten with ketupat (compressed rice cake). Eaten all year round, but also eaten as the celebratory meal at the end of the fasting month. Kind of a Javanese Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey. Having to eat it for days on end during that holiday period can result in an opor-dose.
 * Pecel — said to originate in East Java but found widely in Central Java, this is a dish of steamed vegetables in peanut sauce. Though superficially similar to the ubiquitous gado-gado there are key differences. Pecel has only steamed beansprouts, spinach, cabbage and green beans. None of the boiled egg, potatoes, beancurd or pressed rice cake that gado-gado has. Pecel sauce has a good dollop of palm sugar, making it a bit sweeter and glossy red compared to the pale brown of gado-gado sauce. The key flavouring in pecel sauce is kencur, an aromatic rhizome related to ginger.
 * Pindang Serani — this fiery, sour fish soup from the north coast may or may not take its name from the Christian (nasrani) Portuguese adventurers who made their way along the north coast early in the 16th century, leaving behind a fort on the coast at the foot of Mount Muria. All the spicy astringency will clear away the gloopy sweetness of too much gudeg.
 * Soto Kudus — the nationwide family of soupy rice is represented in Central Java by the buffalo- or chicken-based, warmly-spiced version in Kudus, and further to the west on the north coast, the popular sauto which is soto pimped with fermented soybean paste, tauco, to give it umami depth.
 * Thiwul (TEE-wool) — in the Gunung Kidul region to the southeast of Jogja life has been desperately bleak on the poor, dry soils of the limestone hills. Poverty has driven the people to adapt cassava to be eaten in place of scarce and expensive rice. The cassava is chopped and treated to create a granular, savoury 'grain'. Not eaten widely now as living standards have improved, it can still be found, and makes a tasty alternative to rice.

The angkringan is a popular type of eating stall in Central Java, named after the shoulder pole traditionally used to carry the baskets containing the food. They often serve tiny parcels of rice and a savoury side, wrapped in a banana or waxed paper packet. Due to the small portion, they are known as nasi kucing or sego kucing in Javanese meaning cat rice: just enough for a cat to eat.

Nasi pincuk is a small portion of rice with a small portion of dishes arranged on a banana leaf. It is relatively cheap, but you need maybe two or three to fill up. Usually served by an old lady with a basket on her back.

Drink
Being a predominantly Islamic region, alcohol can be a little difficult to find outside the few licensed hotels and restaurants. Supermarkets and mini-markets may have a discreet supply of beer, but rarely will it be chilled. Wine, when available, will be eye-wateringly expensive.

A kind of local alcohol, ciu, is made and you may sometimes be offered it. Drink it at your own risk.

Besides socialising, another reason to drink is to stay hydrated. One of the pleasantest ways to do that in Central Java is with fresh, young coconut water degan (DUH-gan). Look for the pile of used coconut husks by the side of the road. The top will be chopped off a whole one, and a straw stuck in. That's all that's needed. You may be offered sugar syrup or some other flavouring, or ice. Up to you. The bonus is the jellyish flesh you get to scrape out with a spoon. In a restaurant they will do all for you, and tip it into a glass.

Sleep
With both the well-developed tourism industry and business and industry sectors, there are plenty of sleeping options in the region, from the simplest of backpacker dorms, through the plain, cheap business hotels, and charming boutique hotels, to the most extravagant five-star luxury.

All of the major national and international hotel chains are represented in the cities of Semarang, Jogja and Solo, and are now starting to appear in other towns too.

If you have only one or two days to visit, choose Jogja as your hub, because of the number of sightseeing options.

Stay safe

 * Road safety is your major concern — it is recommended to take a local driver. Wear your seatbelt and, if possible, avoid long night drives.
 * This is an active volcanic and seismic region — there was a major earthquake south of Jogja in 2006 and Mount Merapi, to the north of Jogja, erupted in 2010. Take heed of official instructions. Even if it is not on alert, climbing a volcano often requires a permit from the national park authorities and they will know of any local risks.
 * Risk of violent crime is low — but there is always the chance of petty pilfering and pickpocketing. Keep an eye on your belongings.

Go next

 * West Java — despite being on the island of Java, it has a separate Sundanese culture.
 * East Java — for more national parks and volcanic scenery.
 * Kalimantan — flights from Semarang allow you to hop across the Java Sea, in search of the orangutan of Tanjung Puting National Park, or on to Kuching through Pontianak.
 * Bali — direct flights from Semarang, Solo, and Jogja.

title: Central Java


text:
Central Kalimantan

Central Kalimantan (Kalimantan Tengah, Kalteng) is a province in the central and southern part of Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.

Cities

 * — the capital of Central Kalimantan

Other destinations

 * — famous for its orangutan conservation. The national park consists of various (partly degraded) forest types, including peat swamp forests, mangroves, and coastal beach forests.

Flora and fauna
Central Kalimantan is also home for many endemic floras and faunas like orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbill birds, rattan, and Bornean iron wood.

Get in
Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangkaraya has frequent flights from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and also direct domestic flights from Surabaya, Balikpapan, Pontianak, and smaller airports across Kalimantan. There is also an airport at Pangkalan Bun, Iskandar Airport. The airport has flights to/from several major cities (such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Banjarmasin) with Trigana Air.

Do
You can go up the central river on a boat and visit orangutan reserves.

title: Central Kalimantan


text:
Central Kansas

Central Kansas is a region of Kansas.

Cities

 * - home of the World's Largest Ball of Sisal Twine
 * - small city in the southeast Wichita area known for its lush, green landscape and of inviting bike and walking paths
 * - home of the Kansas State Fair, held every September, and of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, the world's second largest space museum
 * - known as Little Sweden, USA
 * - Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas
 * – location of Rock City
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * - known as Little Sweden, USA
 * - Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas
 * – location of Rock City
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * – location of Rock City
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.
 * - the largest city in Kansas; home of the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the United States. Also home to numerous shopping, dining, and other entertainment opportunities.

Other destinations

 * — small, authentic Amish community a few miles south of Hutchinson

title: Central Kansas


text:
Central Karadeniz

Central Black Sea (Turkish: Orta Karadeniz) is a region in Black Sea Turkey, including the Amasya, Çorum, Ordu, Samsun, and Tokat provinces.

Cities

 * — inland town on Yeşilırmak River with whitewashed Ottoman architecture and ancient tombs engraved on cliffs overlooking the town
 * — town close to Hattuşaş, which was once the capital of Hittite Empire, indigenous people of Anatolian highlands
 * — capital of Çorum province. But otherwise pretty unremarkable provincial city.
 * — coastal city
 * — big city attractions: such as opera and museums. Also many sports, including wakeboarding in summer.
 * — historical city, having important historical buildings and monuments

Get in
Samsun-Çarşamba Airport

title: Central Karadeniz


text:
Central Karnataka

Central Karnataka is a region in Karnataka State.

Cities

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

Other destinations

 * — a beautiful quartet of water falls located in Shimoga

 * —

Talk
Kannada is widely spoken, and people in urban areas can understand English and Hindi.

title: Central Karnataka


text:
Central Kerala

Central Kerala covers 3 districts located middle of Kerala state. Central Kerala was part of erstwhile Kingdom of Kochi. Today its one of the most leading economic powerhouse of Kerala with several industries and trading firms. The most important city in this region is Kochi (commercial capital of Kerala) which is a major gateway to Kerala.

Districts
The region is divided into three districts, arranged north to south:

Cities
Here are some of the most notable cities.

 * — a famous temple town, known as Bhoolokavaikuntha (Home of Lord Vishnu in Earth)

 * — the birthplace of Adi Shankara.

 * (Cochin) — The commercial capital of Kerala and major gateway to the state.

 * — Forests, farms, cliffs, waterfalls, orange farms, its loved by adventurists, naturists and honeymooners.

 * — a suburb of Kochi, is a major heritage site and farm tourism

 * — the rice granary of Kerala, famous for its agricultural fields and industries

 * — The WonderLa, Kochin refinery, FACT, InfoPark etc. are situated outskirts of Pattimattom

 * — Is the town crowded with Indian workers in Kerala. Several thousands of Bengalis, Biharis and Assamese live in this tiny town.

 * — the cultural capital of Kerala, famous for large festivals, museums, temples and performing arts institutions.

Other destinations

 * —

 * — the haven of innumerable species of endangered plants and animals

 * —

 * — thickly forested with bamboo and other trees is home to a large variety of fauna and flora

 * — one of the India’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries and has rich collections of flora and fauna

 * — largest national park in Kerala that is virtually an undisturbed natural area that is home to several endangered or rare species of birds, plants and animals. Sairandhri hosts the visitor center for this park

Understand
Central Kerala was once the cradle of Imperial Chera civilization, established in 300 BC with the capital at Muziris (today's Kodungallur- 40 km from Kochi). At height of Chera glory, they established an empire reaching to the Ganges in North India. Chera's capital city, Muziris, was one of the largest seaports in the Ancient world and had regular trade with Greeks, Roman, Mesopotamian and Chinese civilizations. With the decline of Chera powers by the mid-11th century and the choking of Muziris port due to the great floods of Periyar, Central Kerala turned into pressure pot of various social and political turmoils. The Chera Dynasty was replaced by Kochi Kingdom and its capital with the newly formed Kochi City. Trade relations with the West and Arab world enabled Europeans to come to Kochi and form a major political power in Kerala. By the 18th century, British dominated the political sphere. British influence over Kochi Kingdom brought several British institutions to this area. When Kochi Kingdom merged with India in 1949, this area came under new state of Thiru-Kochi (Travancore-Kochi). The area was renamed as a zone when Kerala State was formed in 1957.

Today its a major economic center with several industries located here. Along with this, Central Kerala is famous for its varied cultural potpourri, several famed festivals, tourists locations and agricultural areas.

Talk
As elsewhere in the state of Kerala, Malayalam is the native language. 3 dialects of Malayalam language are spoken here. In Kochi one can feel the strong influence of Portuguese and Dutch in local dialects. Sanskritic Malayalam is spoken in the Thrissur area with lot of poetic expressions, whereas in Palakkad, which borders on Tamil Nadu, the Malayalam spoken has lot of Tamil influence.

Tamil is widely understood and spoken in Palakkad, whereas English and Hindi are popular in Kochi and Thrissur. Arabic also understood in few pockets of Thrissur where Muslims are in majority like Chavakkad.

By plane

 * Cochin International Airport, located in Nedumbasserry is a major Indian Airport with regular international connections by leading international airlines and is well connected with various national destinations. The Airport is located 30 km from Kochi City, 60 km from Thrissur city.
 * Calicut International Airport, located in Karipur, this is an important international airport with regular connections from Middle East cities. The airport is located 100 km from Thrissur city, 85 km from Palakkad town and 200 km from Kochi. Cochin International Airport became the first fully solar powered airport in the world with the commissioning of 13.1 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power station built at COK airport, India, by the company Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).
 * Coimbatore Airport, located in Coimbatore in the neighboring Tamil Nadu State, this airport has regular connections from many major Indian cities and few international connections from Singapore and Middle Eastern cities. The airport is located just 45 km from Palakkad city, 110 km from Thrissur town and 170 km from Kochi.

By train
Most of the trains bound to Kerala have various stops in many places in Central Kerala. Major stations are

 * Ernakulam South, located in Ernakulam (Kochi City) is a major Indian Railways station with regular connections to all over India.The Station consists of 7 platforms. Google provides free open high-speed wifi facility in this railway station.
 * Thrissur Town - a leading station for all Non-Konkan railway train services.The public transport bus facility is near by this railway station.Google provides free open high-speed wifi facility in this railway station.
 * Shornur Junction - The biggest railway station in Kerala.
 * Aluva Town - The Railway station near the banks of river periyar. All major trains have stops here. Cochin Airport is near by this Station helps passenger to get down here and travel to Airport via Public Transportation like low floor AC Buses, Taxis and vice versa.
 * Palakkad Junction - A Major rail station and head office for Palakkad Railway Division

By road
National Highway 47, 17 passes through this stretch

See

 * Chottanikkara Temple - It is the most important Temple among the 393 shrines spread over 3 Districts of Kerala and is under the administration of Cochin Devaswom Board. The Divine Mother known as Rajarajeswari (Adiparasakthi) is worshipped here in three forms: Saraswathy in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening. There is an Idol of Mahavishnu on the same pedestal and so the Deity is called Ammenarayana, Devinarayana, Lakshminarayana and Bhadrenarayana also. Along with Lakshmi & Narayana there are idols of Brahma, Siva, Ganapathi (Ganesh), Subramanya and Sastha on the same pedestal. Apart from the main deity, the temple complex consists of Kizhukkavu Bhagavathy temple, temples for Sastha, Siva, Ganapathi, Nagas and other Upa-Devas. The pleasant atmosphere in the temple give mental peace and harmony to devotees.
 * Korattymuthy or Koratty. Koratty is one of the biggest Christian pilgrimage destinations in India. It is also known as the Lourdes of South India and Vailankanni of Kerala. Korattymuthy shrine is also known as 'Our Lady with Poovan Bananas'. This Marian apparition is situated in Central Part of Kerala. Offering of 'Poovan Bananas'- a special variety of plantain and 'Muttilizhayal' are major offerings in this pilgrim centre. In the month of October, during the Feast of Korattymuthy, major pilgrimage travel is seen on this Holy Place.
 * The Synod of Diamper:- Udayamperoor- 19 km from Kochi city; is a historic church that made Kerala Syrian Christians declare the loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of Diamper (Latin name of Udayamperoor) is the place where Christians formally renounced their Syriac rites and adopted Latin Rites in Catholic Church formats.

Do
Makom Thozhal (worship on the Makom day) is the most important festival of the temple which is celebrated in the month of Kumbham. (Feb / March) It is believed that Bhagavathy, in her full attire, gave darsan to Vilwamangalam Swamiyar on the Makom day and appears on the same day every year to give darsan to the devotees. The Bhadrakaali at Kizhukkavu is believed to exorcise evil spirit from devotees, after conducting bhajanam.

Eat
Due to its strong trade relations, central Kerala's cuisine is a blend of many influences, particularly Arab, Persian, English, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Seafood is very popular, as well as freshwater fish from Kerala's rivers and backwaters. Prawn and squid are considered essential for most celebrations and festive occasions. Vegetarian entrees are also widely available, though the emphasis remains on seafood.

title: Central Kerala