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Longueuil

Longueuil (lahng-GUUY) is a city of 240,000 people (2016) in the Longueuil agglomeration in the suburbs of Montreal on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. There are three nature parks in Longueuil: Parc Marie-Victorin and Parc Michel-Chartrand in Le Vieux-Longueuil and Parc de la Cité in Saint-Hubert. It is also home to a wildlife reserve, the Boisé du Tremblay.

Understand
Longueuil is an important centre for Canada's aerospace industry. It is home to the headquarters of Pratt & Whitney Canada and of Héroux-Devtek. Pratt & Whitney Canada is Longueuil's top employer with 5,000 employees, while Héroux-Devtek has 550 employees. Also located in Longueuil is the headquarters of the Canadian Space Agency (John H. Chapman Space Centre), adjacent to Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport.

A large part of Longueuil's work force commutes to Montreal.

History

Charles Le Moyne, lord of the area under the French colonial system starting in 1657, named Longueuil after a village which is today the seat of a canton in the district of Dieppe in his homeland of Normandy.

His son, Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil, built Fort Longueuil as his fortified residence. It was constructed of stone between 1685 and 1690 and had four towers.

Fort Longueuil was believed to be occupied by American troops during the American Revolutionary War. It was subsequently occupied by the British. It was demolished in 1810 due to its poor condition. The archaeological remains of Fort Longueuil are a National Historic Site of Canada. The site extends beneath the present-day Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Cathedral. Until the middle of the 19th century, Longueuil and its boroughs formed a single Catholic entity with the Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue church as the only place of worship.

Climate
Longueuil has long winters, lasting from November to March, short springs during April and May, average summers, lasting from June to August, and short autumns during September and October.

Tourist information

 * Discover Longueuil website

By car
Longueuil is particularly accessible by Autoroutes 20, 25, Route 132, Route 116, Jacques-Cartier Bridge, Taschereau Boulevard.

The Trans-Canada Highway passes through Longueil and includes the following highways that intersect in Longueil:

 * Autoroute 25 between Autoroute 40 in Montreal and Autoroute 20 between in Longueil
 * Autoroute 20 between Autoroute 25 in Longueil and Rivière-du-Loup

By plane
The (Montreal) Pierre-Eliott-Trudeau International Airport offers flights from numerous popular destinations including New York City, Paris and London. You can get into Longueuil from YUL with the 747 bus (to Downtown Montreal) then take the metro to the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke station on the yellow line. Single fare of $10 on the 747 with the rest of the day free on all of the STM's public transit network, including the metro. A three-day STM pass is also valid; these cost $18.

By metro
Line 4 of Montreal Metro serves the Longueuil terminus STM passing under the St. Lawrence River, with a stop at Île Sainte- Helen. Longueuil is served by the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke station of the Montreal Metro (Yellow line, also known as 4), housed at the Terminus Longueuil building. Fares can be found here.

By boat
Facing Longueuil, the width of the river is at the height of the southern tip of Île Charron, and  facing Cap sur Mer (which is located  downstream of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, and which is the extension of Taschereau Boulevard beyond Route 132). The western boundary of Longueuil stretches over in the middle of the St. Lawrence River (between Saint-Lambert and Boucherville). In addition to maritime activities related to the Port of Montreal and the St. Lawrence Seaway, pleasure boating is very active in front of Longueuil in the summer season, in particular:
 * around Sainte-Hélène islands (including Port Sainte-Hélène) and Notre-Dame island, particularly during the Montreal International Fireworks Festival, which takes place at Lac des Dauphins on Sainte-Hélène Island;
 * around the Boucherville islands.

The marinas in the Longueuil sector are:

By train
The Via Rail train connects the central station in downtown Montreal to Mont-Saint-Hilaire, with a stop at Longueuil-Saint-Hubert railway station. Longueuil is served by the St-Lambert and St-Hubert stations of the AMT Commuter Trains (Mont-St-Hilaire line, a.k.a. purple). Fares can be found here. Tram 3 fares serve all public transit of Laval, Montreal and Longueuil (except St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Tram 5 has to be purchased for this area) (unless noted), while Train 3 will only serve the commuter train network in these areas.

Get around
There is a wide network of public transit buses managed by the Réseau de Transport de Longueuil (Longueuil-RTL). The fares can be found here. Most of the buses depart from/arrive at Terminus Longueuil.

Do
Yoga, meditation and other seminars also take place nearby all year round.

Buy
Saint-Charles West Street has a nice ambiance with all its bars, restaurants and centres of interest.

Arenas

 * [[File:Centre sportif Gaétan Boucher, à Saint-Hubert (Montérégie, Québec)-2022-05-08.jpg|right|thumb|Gaétan Boucher Sport Center, in Laflèche sector of Saint-Hubert]]
 * [[File:Centre sportif Gaétan Boucher, à Saint-Hubert (Montérégie, Québec)-2022-05-08.jpg|right|thumb|Gaétan Boucher Sport Center, in Laflèche sector of Saint-Hubert]]

Go next

 * — This Quebec park managed is open all year round. Its territory covers the islands: Grosbois, Sainte-Marguerite, de la Commune, Grande-Rivière, aux-Raisins, La Petite Rivière and the Grand Duc. Users can rent equipment for recreational activities in all seasons, go camping and organize group activities. In this park, the deer population is part of the scenery.
 * — The park includes many trails, playground, picnic tables, the Jean-Guy Gaudette relay, an orchard, a Le Vieux-Moulin tea room, and a boat rental service.
 * — The economic, commercial and financial heart of Quebec is a large, diverse city, with many festivals, museums, and lively neighbourhoods that attract visitors.
 * — Pré-Vert Park is a place of celebration and outdoor activities in the heart of the city. The Parc de la Commune provides good access to the river. Varennes offers a variety of recreational and tourist activities (hiking, golf, cycling, nautical activities on the river, etc.) Sugar shack enthusiasts are well served on the Chemin des Sucreries.
 * — Boucherville also has 41 municipal parks, two public sports and recreation complexes, a golf club, two yacht clubs, a rowing club, the Maison des Jeunes and a Centre D'Art café. In addition, Boucherville offers a variety of recreational activities (bike paths, nautical activities, golf, etc.)
 * — Sainte-Julie offers a pedestrian heritage circuit to discover the Old Village under the historical aspect with 26 information panels; a mobile, self-guided version is available on the city's website. This city provides access to several recreational activities (hiking, cycling, library, eight municipal parks with various leisure facilities, activities for young people, etc.)
 * — A city surrounded by nature with the Mont Saint-Bruno national park, its urban forest, its parks and its recreational tourism infrastructure. In all seasons, Saint-Bruno offers a variety of recreational tourism activities, including: hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and downhill skiing.
 * — Recreational and tourist activities include hiking (via the green trail that joins Saint-Hubert), cycling, nautical activities (on the Acadie or Richelieu rivers), its municipal parks, etc.
 * — Brossard is a cosmopolitan city offering leisure facilities, recreational tourism activities, in particular: hiking, biking, nautical activities on the river area between the St. Lawrence Seaway and the shore of the river (as well as a segment of the Saint-Jacques River), activities in municipal parks, etc.
 * — Saint-Lambert is a hotbed of culture (shows, artist exhibitions) and recreational tourism activities. In addition to the linear park on the east bank of the Canal de la Rive-Sud, this city has magnificent urban parks.

title: Longueuil


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Longview

There is more than one place called Longview:

Canada

 * Longview (Alberta) — A town in Alberta.

United States of America

 * Longview (Texas) — A city in Texas.
 * Longview (Washington) — A town in Washington (state).

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

title: Longview


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Longview (Alberta)

Longview is a village of about 300 people (2016) the Calgary Region of Alberta. Longview is known for its view west toward the first range of the Rocky Mountains, its cattle ranching heritage and its natural resources (principally oil), but more importantly the open spaces, rivers (the Highwood) and for its beef.

Understand
Longview is also known as the home of Canadian Country music star Ian Tyson.

Highwood River flows west of the village.

History
The Long brothers, Thomas and Oliver, homesteaded at Big Hill, not far from where the village is now. Their last name combined with the view from the then post office, which was opened in 1908, is how the village was named. When the oilfields at Turner Valley were revived in 1936, Longview became known as Little New York. Little New York, had a sister town uphill to the north called Little Chicago. No one seems to know how Little Chicago and Little New York got their names and both towns grew up over night.

In 1936 there was nothing there but an empty prairie field. Then, in 1937, oil was discovered at the 6,828-foot (2,081 m) level and people, most of them long out of work because of the great depression, came flocking and Little Chicago and Little New York were born. Buildings appeared like mushrooms. For the first time in years, men who without so much as a coat on their backs or a nickel in their pockets had the first money they had earned since the depression began. Today Little Chicago is gone and except a monument near the Cowboy Trail to the north of the village, little remains to show it ever existed. Little New York was more fortunate, as it is now the village of Longview.

In 1991, Clint Eastwood's film Unforgiven was filmed in and around Longview, as was the television film starring Tom Selleck, Monte Walsh.

Get in
It is in the Canadian Rockies foothills, on Cowboy Trail, 32 km west of High River and 64 km south of Calgary.

Buy

 * For the art lover or western heritage buff, there are several galleries.

title: Longview (Alberta)


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Longview (Texas)

Longview is a city in the Piney Woods region of Texas. At one time a major headquarters of the vast East Texas Oil Field, petroleum remains a large part of the city's economy. Founded in 1871, the city earned its name when surveyors for the Southern Pacific Railroad noted what a "long view" they could see from a hill near the center of the new town. Longview is now home to more than 75,000 residents and has grown to be an important center of commerce and industry for the Piney Woods region of Texas.

Get in
Longview is easily accessed by auto, lying just north of Interstate 20 and along US Highway 80, and Texas Highway 31. There is a bus station downtown, which is serviced by Greyhound Lines. The city does have a small airport, Longview East Texas Regional, which is mainly a private airfield. However, American Airlines' commuter line, American Eagle, operates daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Get around
Longview has a bus system called COLT (City of Longview Transportation). The COLT buses have stops throughout the city making it relatively easy to get around if you are not in a hurry and know where you need to go.

Several major highways traverse the city; Historic US Route 80 bisects Longview and serves as its "main drag". Longview also has an outer beltway, Texas State Highway Loop 281, which forms a three-quarter loop around the city.

Do
There isn't much to do in Longview, but the locals generally find themselves at the Longview Mall, which is on Loop 281 (or 'the loop' as the locals call it), the Books-A-Million bookstore, also on the loop, or one of the many restaurants around town.

title: Longview (Texas)


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Longview (Washington)

Longview is a city in Washington State. It is nicknamed the "City of Trees" and was established in 1923 by R. A. Long, who intended it to become the "Chicago of the West".

By car

 * I-5.svg Interstate 5: Longview is located just off of I-5 and is accessed from Exits #36B (SR-432 Talley Way) & 39 (Allen St/SR-4) through Kelso along Allen St.
 * US 30.svg & WA-433.svg Crosses the Columbia River on the Lewis & Clark Bridge from US Hwy 30 in Rainier, OR and into town as Oregon Way. From its intersection with Tennant Way the same road goes into downtown as 15th Ave. Drivers can circumvent the town along Industrial Way (SR-432) to reach SR-4 or I-5 without going through town.
 * WA-411.svg 1st Ave & Westside Highway runs alongside the Cowlitz River and up to US Hwy 12 south Napavine through Castle Rock. It parallels along the westside of I-5 between Longview and US Hwy 12. From US Hwy 12 go south on Military Rd which becomes SR-411.
 * WA-432.svg Talley Way Goes from Exit 36B of I-5 to 3rd Ave and aound town as Industrial Ave to SR-4 west of town. To go into town go past 3rd Ave and continue onto Tennant Way (follow signs) which ends at 15th Ave/Oregon Way, just south of town.
 * WA-4.svg Ocean Beach Highway : Goes through town from I-5 as Allen St which becomes Catlin St once it reaches Washington Way. Going west from Washington Way the road becomes Ocean Beach Hwy (SR-4) which connects Longview/Kelso to the coast (Long Beach & Astoria) along the Washington side of the Columbia River.
 * Washington Way Local boulevard that connects Ocean Beach Hwy (SR-4)/Catlin in West Kelso into downtown Longview.

By train

 * in the neighboring town of Kelso, which is a stop for

By bus
The on S 12th Ave & Hemlock, serves as central bus station for River Cities Transit and other regional bus & shuttle companies serving southwest Washington:

Get around
Major streets radiate like wheel spokes from the in the city center.

Do
Driving through Longview in the fall is a pleasure for the eyes that is more typical to New England than the Pacific Northwest. Where much of Washington state is covered with evergreen trees the city of Longview has planted hundreds of deciduous trees all around town. Every fall the area between the civic circle and RA Long is covered in leaves of every imaginable color.

Drink
Longview loves its coffee. Of course there are a number of Starbucks locations, but in addition to that there's:

Sleep
See the Kelso article, under Sleep, for additional listings of accommodations near the Three Rivers Mall off of Allen St & I-5 (Exit #39).

title: Longview (Washington)


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Long Xuyen

Long Xuyen (Long Xuyên) is the capital city of An Giang Province, in the Mekong Delta region of southwestern Vietnam.

By bus
Long Xuyen can be best reached by bus, which takes about 5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City or 1½ hours from Can Tho.

Get around
The city itself is not as large as its close neighbor Can Tho and the centre of town is easily walkable. Like any other Vietnamese city there are plenty of xe-om motorcycle drivers or a bicycle with cart attached (xe loi), which is a specialty of the Mekong.

Another easy mode of transportation is renting a bike from a streetside bike repairman, although most foreigners would prefer a motorbike to go farther into the province when time permits.

See

 * Cam Mountain
 * Sam Mountain
 * Sap Mountain
 * Tiger Island - the birthplace of the second president of Vietnam

Buy

 * Coop-mart: three-floor supermarket, biggest in An Giang
 * Nguyen Hue supermarket: electronics products, high quality
 * The gioi di dong: high-quality cell phones
 * Thu Quan: books, mostly school books, magazines, newspapers and school stuff
 * Thanh Kien: school stuff, in front of An Giang University

Eat

 * Buu Loc - Good high quality food. Specialty is family-style dinners. Book beforehand for table upstairs in private room.
 * Hai Lua - Quite expensive, food good, great for huge parties, can take a night on the river on a boat with pre-ordered meal menu. Owner speaks English and Japanese.
 * Hong Phat - High quality, good service, reasonable price for the better meal. 30,000-50,000 dong per person.
 * Lan Ky - Excellent soup restaurant run by a Chinese family that has been here for generations.
 * Phong Ky - Great food, not too clean, a little slow, 20,000-40,000 dong per person.
 * Nam An - near Hai Lua. very beautiful setting, good service, a large food menu.

Drink

 * Khuc Ban Chieu: high quality, quiet place, almost good service.
 * Panda: high quality, good service, a good view of the whole city, possibly see the Sap Mountain from here
 * Star: beautiful place, high quality

title: Long Xuyen


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Longyan

Longyan (龙岩 Lóngyán) is a city in Fujian Province in China.

Understand
Longyan is a small city by Chinese standards (about 2.5 million) in Fujian. Most visitors end up here passing through to see the Hakka earth houses in Yongding County. Tourist infrastructure is minimal, and there are no large tour buses. An afternoon in Longyan can provide a glimpse of life in a growing, non-coastal city. Do not expect any English to be spoken.

The prefecture consists of: Xinluo District 新罗区, Yongding District 永定区, Zhangping City 漳平市, Changting County 长汀县, Shanghang County 上杭县, Wuping County 武平县, and Liancheng County 连城县.

By train
Longyan has rail connections to:
 * Shenzhen
 * Fuzhou
 * Ganzhou takes 4½ hours, train number N520.
 * Shanghai (via Guangzhou or Xiamen, 9 hours)

There is a newly-constructed train station where tickets can also be bought. There is no ATM in the station and they do not accept foreign credit cards.

By bus
Longyan is well connected and most cities in Fujian including Xiamen and Fuzhou can be reached from here. The bus station is on Ren Min Dong Road and tickets can be brought at the adjoining ticket office. From Xiamen, there are numerous buses that depart in the early afternoon, however the last return bus departs at 12:30. Buses can drop passengers off at villages or tulous along the way.

The train and bus stations are about 1 km apart.

Get around
While there are occasional taxis and motorbikes, they're very irregular. There is a taxi stand at the train station. As everywhere in China, you can use the Didi app (Chinese Uber) to call taxis on the spot. A ride within the city center costs around ¥10.

Additionally, there is an excellent public bus system that connects all around the city (fare ¥1, cash accepted, no change given). Any lodging should also be able to arrange a taxi to visit the surrounding villages.

Talk
Minnan is the main language spoken in eastern urban areas, while Hakka is the main language in the western rural areas. That said, most younger speakers of those languages are able to speak Mandarin as well. There are very few English speakers.

See
The best-known tourist attraction in the area are the Fujian Tulou earth houses (土楼 tǔlóu), often round, of the Hakka people (客家人 kèjiārén). These houses are on to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Hakka means "guest"; they arrived in the area (western Fujian and Eastern Guangdong) as refugees from one of Northern China's wars several hundred years ago and still have their own dialect and customs. These houses are quite large, holding an extended family, and built to be easily defended. There are none in the city itself, but there are thousands in villages to the West. Hotels can arrange a car or van to visit these places (¥200-300/day).

Culture
There are a large number of beautiful Hakka villages in the area that are worth exploring. There's a particularly large grouping of tulou in the village of Hukeng, to the south-west of Longyan. Entrance fee is ¥90 for Hukeng (called the Earth House Culture Village), and for an additional ¥10 you can add the neighboring tulou cluster of Gao Bei Tu Lou (高北土楼). Hukeng offers a quiet and sincere glimpse of tulou life, while Gao Bei is more geared to tourists and shopping. There are several restaurants in Hukeng catering to tourists, and prices can be higher (¥90-120/meal). Many restaurants offer homemade rice wine. Hotels surrounding Hukeng and Gao Bei are also plentiful. As in Longyan, don't expect any English to be spoken.

Amusement
There is an amusement park called Zhigao Amusement Park (志高游乐园) in the west part of town. It features rollercoasters and Disneyland-like architecture. Opening times: 15:00-22:30 (workdays), 9:30-22:30 (weekends and holidays). Admission: ¥120 for adults, ¥50 for children.

Buy
Longyan's city center in itself is small, but has many places where designer brand and mobile phones etc. can be bought.

There is a walking street area (中山路步行街 Zhongshanlu Buxingjie) at Zhongshan Street (中山路), north of the river and next to Zhongshan Park (中山公园 Zhongshan Gongyuan), with many shops and food stalls that are open till late in the evening.

There is also the wholesale district of Jiaoyi Cheng which sells everything from shoes and tea to electronics at wholesale prices. As of June 2018, many massive furniture and home appliance outlets have opened in the area. Jiaoyi Cheng can be reached by catching the No.10, No.12 and No.19 buses. There is also a several-building clothing market in the Jaioyi area called Bai Ma (白吗). Go early— shops tend to close by 16:00, though many on the street level stay open later.

Eat
There are casual food stalls and eateries all around the city, serving a variety of regional cuisines but especially focused on Hakka cooking. A large number can be found at the walking street mentioned in the Buy section above.

There are also country-restaurants where you can select whichever meats and vegetables look good and they'll stir-fry them in a large amount of oil. Expect to pay around ¥20/meal.

Drink
There is a number of tea farms in the area, and Fujian is well known for its Oolong tea, and to a lesser extent its Iron Guanyin Tea (铁观音茶). Fujian has what might be called a tea-ceremony, where water is poured into a pot full of tea leaves, immediately poured into another pot, and then poured into thimble-sized tea glasses. It's likely any restaurants, lodging, or private residence you enter, will offer you this style of tea. The tea itself varies wildly in both quality and price.

Additionally, many private residences will have a large jug of baijiu, with Chinese medicinals steeped inside.

Most soft drinks and especially beer will be served room-temperature.

Sleep
There are hotels in Longyan and the nearby city of Yongding. There is a number of cheap hotels just opposite the train station, any of the buildings with red or blue signs on top. Price ¥40-60 for a double. Many tulou offer accommodation to tourists, ranging from very simple (plain rooms, no bathroom) to beautifully decorated rooms with airconditioning and private bathrooms. See Fujian Tulou for detailed information.

Go next

 * Fujian Tulou in Yongding County and Nanjing County, just south-east of Longyan, are amazing earth structures where a number of residences are built inside a single fortified compound.
 * Xiamen
 * Wuyi Mountain
 * Guangdong

title: Longyan


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Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, (pronounced lungyer-byin) is the largest populated area, and capital of the Norwegian region of Svalbard. The settlement is generally regarded as the northernmost town in the world as well as the most easily accessed frontier in the Arctic, and is an ideal base for the greater exploration of Svalbard and the high Arctic.

Understand
Longyearbyen is the largest populated settlement on the Svalbard archipelago, located in the high Norwegian Arctic.

The settlement is named after American entrepreneur John Munro Longyear (1860-1922), who as head of the Arctic Coal Company founded the town and the neighboring coal mine, the first large mine on Svalbard. Mining remains an important component of the economy, and historical remnants of the mining past can be seen on the nearby mountain slopes and throughout the town. Today, however, most mining is done at the Svea mine to the south. The economy of Longyearbyen is now driven primarily by scientific research and tourism.

With approximately 2,500 inhabitants, the town is the de facto "capital" of the islands, and is today a vibrant, modern, and international settlement with much of the character of mainland Norwegian towns. It has an airport, a school, a shopping centre, hospital, hotels, restaurants, and a university. People from approximately 40 different countries call Longyearbyen home, and this is reflected in the events offered in the town.

Orientation
Longyearbyen lies on the southern side of Adventfjorden, stretched out along the Longyearelve (Longyear River). The centre of the town lies near the coast on the east side of the river, with the district of Skjæringa across the river, the district of Nybyen to the south and the airport  to the west. Adventdalen, the valley housing Longyearbyen's only operational mine (#7), stretches out to the east.

Longyearbyen 78° North is a free pamphlet, available at most lodges and sometimes at the airport, which has a detailed map of the city and listings of all its facilities.

Climate
Svalbard's climate is a combination of a cold Arctic climate tempered by the North Atlantic Current, an arm of the Gulf Stream. Nordenskiöld Land is the warmest and wettest part of the archipelago, caused by the convergence of mild and humid air from the south and cold air from the north. Average summer temperatures are typically 4 to 6 °C (39 to 43 °F) while average winter temperatures are −12 to −16 °C (10 to 3.2 °F). Longyearbyen experiences midnight sun from 19 April to 23 August, and polar night from 14 November to 29 January. The sun is under the horizon from 26 October to 16 February however, the sun is not visible in Longyearbyen until 8 March due its location. Snow covers the town from late September to May.

By plane
There is the possibility of chartered services to other bases on Svalbard, but these are generally reserved for scientists and those travelling on expeditions to the North Pole. Sightseeing by plane or helicopter is not allowed under the environmental laws.

The airport has a little souvenir shop, which also sells some snacks. Svalbard is officially outside the Schengen Area. The Norwegian government has imposed identity checks on individuals wishing to enter and leave the mainland going to and coming from Svalbard, with the border between the latter and the rest of Norway being treated as an external Schengen border. A Schengen visa must be multiple entry to return through Norway, or any other Schengen country, for cruise passengers continuing for example to Iceland.

Airport shuttle buses (NOK100 one way, NOK170 return for adults) connect with all flights arriving and departing at the airport. Taxis are also available.

Apart from passport control when returning to mainland Norway, passengers also need to go through customs control at their first stop in mainland Norway – usually Tromsø or Oslo; this is due to the duty-free status of Svalbard (see below for shopping for alcohol). If your flight gets routed Longyearbyen – Tromsø – Oslo, all formalities are handled at Tromsø, with Oslo-bound passengers having to pick up their luggage, even if it is checked through to Oslo on their baggage tags.

By boat
Longyearbyen's port is accessible only in the summer when the pack ice recedes. For dates, see the port website. There are weekly freight boats to and from Tromsø. Organised sightseeing tourist boats offer day trips to Barentsburg, the active Russian town, and Pyramiden, a Russian settlement that was abandoned in 1998, throughout the summer months.

Get around
There is no public transportation aside from the airport shuttle bus. Visitors who leave the town centre without a guide should be aware that polar bears can be seen anywhere on the islands at any time of year. Leaving the central area of Longyearbyen without a hunting rifle is not recommended. Rifles can be rented from several places in the town, or alternatively, a guide can be hired for expeditions.

On foot
Walking is a viable option, although rather tedious if you need to move around outside the centre, especially when the weather is bad. Although rarely needed, the town centre features a few pedestrian crossings. In winter, be aware of snowmobiles which use tracks not congruent to the roads that cars use.

By taxi
Taxi services are available, at a price. As an example, a 5-minute ride from the church to the town centre costs around NOK120.

By hotel shuttle
As of 2024, Hurtigruten Svalbard runs a free evening shuttle between the Radisson Blu Polar hotel and the Coal Miner's Bar & Grill (in Nybyen), as well as one or two more stops on the way, daily at 17:45 and 18:30, starting at the aforementioned hotel.

By bike
Most of the hotels and hostels, and some of the tour operators, offer bike rentals in the summer season.

By car
Car rentals are available at the airport (Arctic Autorent) and in the town centre (Svalbard Auto), but vehicle inventory is very limited, so reservations are recommended. Given the high prices and the few roads to drive on, this option makes little sense for tourists, as everyone booking tours will be picked up free of charge at their accommodation.

See

There are many possibilities for walking and sight-seeing in the immediate Longyearbyen area. Walking out of the settlement into the fjord, you will see the old cemetery and several abandoned mine buildings.

Do

A wide variety of activities including hiking, dog-sledding, kayaking and snowmobile safaris and ice-caving and more are offered by Svalbard's many tour companies. The largest operators are Spitsbergen Travel and Svalbard Wildlife Service (SWS). Prices are high — expect to pay from NOK390-1000 for a half-day activity, NOK1000-3000 for a full day — but the standard is high and the experiences are well worth the price.

If you have multiple days to spare then your options really open up: how about a week-long snow scooter trip (NOK21,500) or 11 days by boat around all of Spitsbergen (from around ) For a real Arctic experience, you can arrange to join a trip to the North Pole.

Events

 * In late October, Longyearbyen hosts the annual that draws large crowds. This marks the beginning of the dark season when daylight and the sun is about to leave Svalbard.

Buy
Svalbard's shopping is concentrated in and around the two-story Lompensenteret shopping mall and the supermarket. Most shops are only open M-F 11:00-18:00, and Sa 11:00-14:00.

Eat
Eating out in Longyearbyen (as with all of Norway) is expensive, with the simplest sit-down meals usually costing over NOK150. There are several small cafés in the town centre, and also a restaurant and bar at the Radisson SAS Hotel. Many places serve traditional Norwegian food. Some serve Svalbard specialties such as seal and whale. Delivery is usually available, arranged through local taxis for about NOK50.

Drink
Svalbard's tax-free status makes alcohol a lot cheaper than on the mainland.

Sleep
The full service hotels are fairly expensive, especially during the high season. Discounts of 20-50% may be available in the October–May low season.

Mid-range
A number of guesthouses and homestays offer basic accommodation. Read the small print carefully, as you're often charged extra for breakfast, linens, towels and perhaps even use of the bath.

Cope
Virtually all shops and services take major credit cards. As of 2024, Longyearbyen has no banks nor ATMs. You will have to bring sufficient funds from the mainland. Some businesses don't accept cash at all.

Stay safe
Perhaps more so than anywhere in the world, Longyearbyen is free from crime. The risk of being involved with any type of altercation or incident is practically nil, with the sole threat being from fellow visitors. It is not uncommon to see intoxicated tourists wandering around during the midnight sun in August, but despite the lack of visible law enforcement, problems are almost non-existent. Note that driving under the influence of alcohol is regarded as a very serious offence, and police stops for cars and snowmobiles are not uncommon. The blood alcohol content limit is 0.02%, and the fines are steep.

You are advised not to leave the settlement limits (clearly marked with signs bearing the picture of a polar bear). If you choose to do so, it is compulsory to carry a firearm which can be rented from the town. Travelling further afield requires permission from the Governor of Svalbard, whose office is near the church.

As everywhere in Svalbard, it is critical to understand that all year round there is a significant threat from polar bears. However, polar bears are legally protected, and shooting one will be treated very seriously by the police and investigated thoroughly.

Go next
Both trips operate summer season only, and will not operate unless minimum numbers (about 12) are achieved. Be prepared for disappointment in shoulder season.
 * Barentsburg - Svalbard's solitary remaining Russian settlement, easily visited on a (albeit expensive) day trip.
 * Pyramiden - Alternatively on Tuesdays you could take the same ship to visit the mysterious abandoned Russian settlement of Pyramiden - perfectly preserved but utterly empty.

title: Longyearbyen


text:
Longzhou

Longzhou (龙州; Lóngzhōu) is a rural town in Central Guangxi.

Understand
Longzhou is southwest of Nanning, near the border of Vietnam.

Longzhou has quite a history despite its current lack of importance. There is a saying in Longzhou, "We have an embassy, but no ambassador. A train station, but no trains. And an airport with no planes."

During the late 1800s as French influence grew in Vietnam they tried to expand into Guangxi province. In Longzhou they set up the first Embassy in Guangxi. Wars were fought along the little great wall to prevent further influence.

In the early 1900s the Guomindang (Chinese Nationalists) built up their influence in this important river port, they even built an airport to help them keep control of the city. In the 1950s and 60s Ho Chi Minh had a small house in Longzhou where he would be able to meet with Chinese leaders.

In 1979 Deng Xiaoping tried to launch a Communist rebellion from Longzhou. Ultimately it failed, and Deng tried again in Baise, where he launched his most famous rebellion. There is a small building where Deng Xiaoping stayed while in Longzhou.

With the development of the Nanyou expressway, Longzhou has been cut out of the main Vietnam-China traderoute and has returned to its backwater status.

By bus
Longzhou has a bus service from the provincial capital of Nanning and the journey takes just over 2.5 hours. There are also regular services from Chongzuo and Pingxiang. There are two bus stations - the new station (where buses from Nanning arrive) opposite the museum, and the old station in the centre of town (where buses to Pingxiang arrive).

By train
The nearest train station is at Chongzou, about one and a half hours by bus.

Get around
The city is small enough to walk most places. Three wheeled taxis are available and cost ¥2-3 to get anywhere in the town.

Eat
Noodles and fried rice is available in small restaurants on the street for a few Yuan. One KFC type restaurant is also in town but otherwise a trip to Nanning is needed for Western food.

Drink
There are many KTV options. Otherwise outdoor restaurants offer an interesting atmosphere.

Go next

 * Nanning. Long distance buses leave about every hour to the provincial capital. This trip takes just over two and a half hours and allows you access to the rest of the Province and beyond. The cost for this is ¥55 depending on if you are going to Longzhou or heading to Nanning.
 * Surrounding villages. Local buses operate services to nearby villages.

title: Longzhou


text:
Lonoke

Lonoke is in the Central region of Arkansas.

Get around

 * Little Rock Taxi Service, 505 W Ash St, (501) 687-7172

title: Lonoke


text:
Looe

Looe (Cornish: Logh) is a picturesque town on the coast of South Cornwall. Looe's main business is tourism, with much of the town given over to hotels, guest houses and holiday homes, along with a large number of pubs, restaurants and beach equipment, ice cream and Cornish pasty vendors. Inland from Looe lie many camping and caravan sites, as well as the famous Woolly Monkey Sanctuary. Other local attractions include the beaches, sailing, fishing and diving, and spectacular coastal walks (especially via Talland to Polperro).

Understand
Looe remains a fishing town, and retained several fish dealers operating from the East Looe quayside until the advent of EU regulations. With its fleet of small fishing boats returning their catches to port daily, Looe has a reputation for procuring excellent fresh fish. The town is also a centre for shark fishing, and is home to the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain.
 * Looe visitor information website

Get in
is small and within walking distance of the shops and the beach. The town is also easily accessible by road. The cities of Plymouth and Exeter can be reached with ease by following the main road. However, once in Looe, driving is particularly difficult as the roads are so narrow. There is a large car park at the entrance to the village which many tourists choose to use.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk around on foot, even for elderly people. It is small, and the city centre is flat. The main street of the town is lined with shops and restaurants. This road leads to the beach and banjo pier. There is also a bridge and boat service to allow people to travel from East Looe-West Looe.

Do
The walk along the banjo pier and along the river observing the boats moored there makes a pleasant stroll on a summer's day. A walk along the footpath alongside the seafront is also a pleasant experience. The village has its own museum which is always an interesting activity. Towards the village entrance there is a large arcade with a bowling alley inside. Many tourists go on boat trips around the coast. Younger children enjoy crabbing of the harbour.

On New Year's Eve, Looe provides a surprisingly exciting and large celebration. People flock to the streets in their hundreds, wearing fancy dress, a tradition upheld by all ages. The crowds begin the evening in the town and slowly move towards the seafront for a fireworks display to see in the New Year.

Buy
There are many shops on the main street such as Boots, the Co-op and Cancer Research. There are numerous gift shops selling Looe merchandise. There are many independent shops in Looe that stock brands like Animal, Quiksilver, Roxy and Superdry.

Eat
There are a number of small, locally owned cafés in the town,many of which serve local specialities such as the Cornish pasty. There is a Cornish Pasty Co. shop a short walk from the beach. There is a café on the beach that provides refreshments for tourists. There are additionally many lovely restaurants selling local fish. The harbour on East Looe also houses Sarah's Pasty and Cake stores that are famous throughout the village for their exquisite delicatessens.

Drink
There are lots of lovely pubs in the village. Notably the Jolly Sailor in West Looe. The selection of alcohol is good and the pub also provides a weekly shanty singing as entertainment, which customers can join in with.

Go next
Looe Bay Holiday Park and Trelawne Manor are within a ten-minute drive of the village. In terms of local accommodation, there are lots of holiday cottages and apartments that are available to rent.

title: Looe


text:
Loop Art Tour

The Loop Art Tour is a guided walking tour of Chicago's impressive collection of public art in the Loop, taking 2–4 hours depending on how long you linger at each sight.

Understand

Most visitors to Chicago make a point of visiting the endless collections at the Art Institute, but many overlook the world-class collection of public art on display throughout Chicago's commercial center. The Loop is a veritable open air museum of sculptures by the world's most famous modern artists (Picasso, Calder, Miro, Lewitt, etc.), and it's all, of course, free. These monumental sculptures are both a part of Chicago's distinctive character and a major source of civic pride. This itinerary will guide you along an efficient route to visit all the most famous of Chicago's downtown public art installations, as well as more than a few lesser-known gems.

Chicago's wealth of public art is also a great excuse to get out and enjoy the city in all its aesthetic glory. A major side benefit of this walking tour is that you'll quickly get to know the Loop and its main streets. The tour takes you past many of the Loop's most prominent landmarks, like Millennium Park, the Chicago Theater, the Chicago Board of Trade, the various central plazas, and the Sears Tower.

Prepare

You won't need to bring much else besides this article. If you are planning on doing the full itinerary, be sure to wear comfortable shoes. In total, it's a 2.7 mile-walk (4.3 km), and that doesn't include time spent indoors. Inclement weather will make the walk less enjoyable, but only a real storm or the most frigid weather would really stop you from making the journey. Check the weather before you head out and bring rain/snow gear as appropriate. Don't forget your camera and consider bringing along the Wikivoyage map of the Loop, in case you want to stop in a cafe or finish with a beer.

One of the best things about public art is that you get to enjoy it without paying any money. The only costs you'll encounter are from the many temptations along the way. If you want to visit the Art Institute at the beginning, that will be $25 for adults and $19 for teens, students, and seniors; the Sears Tower Skydeck at the end will set you back $12.95/adult, $9.50/child. Set out in the morning or the afternoon, just so long as you'll finish the trip before dinner time, when many of the buildings close, denying you access to any indoor sculptures.

Art Institute
The walk begins at the world famous Art Institute of Chicago, and the more ambitious might want to plan an extra several hours at the beginning of the day to see some highlights from its collections (for information on how to get here, check the guide to the Loop). Don't wear yourself out before you begin the walk, though! There are several interesting public statues on the grounds of the Institute that don't require admission fees. You are walking north anyway, so take a look at the three rather famous statues in the North Garden. Hold Calder's whimsical Flying Dragon and Sir Henry Moore's pondering Large Interior Form in your mind — you'll see two monumental echoes of these two statues farther on. The other statue on hand is David Smith's Cubi VII, the seventh such statue in a series displayed around the world. At first glance David Smith's work looks like a boxy, metal tree, but there's more to it than that. Smith's metal sculptures are oddly textured, causing the steel faces to catch light in a different way for every new day.

Millennium Park

Across Monroe Street, Millennium Park's Crown Fountain (Jaume Plensa) comes into view, and makes an impression! These two mini-skyscrapers project faces of Chicagoans, who occasionally spew water through their "mouths" into the large black granite fountain between them. If you've brought kids along, now is a good time to collect their shoes and let them splash around a bit.

Continuing northwards, you'll see the hard-to-miss Cloud Gate (Anish Kapoor). Better known as The Bean, it's a kidney-shaped structure of smooth stainless steel weighing 110 tons. It's the favorite sculpture of Millennium Park's throngs of visitors, as it reflects the surrounding skyscrapers (and tourists) like a funhouse mirror. That and it is rather graceful, isn't it?

After taking either artistic or goofy photos with the Bean, head east through the park, around the edge of the huge Pritzker Pavilion (Frank Gehry). Its giant steel trellis performs an important function besides aesthetic appeal; it supports much of the stage's sound and lighting systems. At the eastern edge of the pavilion (and of Millennium Park), take the long, winding BP Bridge over Columbus Drive and be sure to stop along the way to enjoy the views of the skyline and Lake Michigan.

Aon Center Plaza
After crossing the bridge, you are in Grant Park. Turn left, head up to Randolph Street and cross it to Aon Center. There is not a single setback on Aon Center, and you can walk right up to the base and look straight up 83 stories to the 1136 foot pinnacle. The plaza is pleasant enough and there are two Sounding Sculptures (Henry Bertoia) at the southeast and southwest corners. These "musical sculptures" are inspired by the image of Midwestern wheat fields swaying in the breeze. These wheat stalks are hollow and made of thin copper, so when the wind blows (and it always blows in the Windy City), the rods produce a strange metallic music. Follow the plaza around to the west of the tower past some smaller statues and Richard Hunt's Winged Form (his more spectacular Freeform is yet to come), then head down the steps onto Lake Street.

Thompson Center

Continue a couple blocks to State Street and turn left. The giant Chicago sign on the left is one of Chicago's most famous landmarks, at the Chicago Theater. Walk past the theater and then turn right onto Randolph Street. Two blocks more and you will be before one of Chicago's most distinctive buildings, the Thompson Center (named for an Illinois governor). In the plaza on Randolph stands one of Chicago's most famous statues, Jean Dubuffet's Monument with Standing Beast. It's a strange sculpture of white, organic shapes, with thick black outlines, and usually a host of kids running in and out of it.

Make a point of wandering past the curved glass walls of the Thompson Center into its enormous atrium. The building is often compared to a spaceship, but few spaceships can claim the collection of public art that the Thompson Center has. Once you've finished inside, head back out to Randolph, turn right and head to the corner at LaSalle Street. Look across LaSalle and look up. Up on the State of Illinois Building is Richard Hunt's three ton, 2.5 story-tall, flame-like Freeform sculpture. If your neck starts to ache from looking up so much, look back down LaSalle and head south a block before turning left on to Washington Street.

Daley Center
Two blocks down Washington and you are at the Daley Center and Chicago's most famous work of art, the Chicago Picasso. Resembling an elephant, a sphinx, or whatever your mind comes up with, the Chicago Picasso was the first monumental public art downtown (donated by the artist) and sparked the spate of public art acquisitions that you are now enjoying. It was "controversial," however, when it first arrived for its "abstract" "non-traditional" design. But the reactionary grumps have bit their tongues (after having removed their feet from their mouths) and the statue is celebrated today by a city that loves art. Kids, in particular, enjoy sliding down the statue's base.

Turn around and look across Washington Street for Joan Miró's Chicago, a strange surrealist, anthropomorphic figure. The fork on its head is said to represent a star.

Go down Dearborn Street one block and take a left onto Madison Avenue to make a quick venture into Three First National Plaza (70 W Madison St). The atrium is attractive and full of plants, complemented by one very large Sir Henry Moore statue, Large Upright Internal/External Form. Henry Moore's titles are purposefully devoid of descriptive content. He argued:

''All art should have a certain mystery and should make demands on the spectator. Giving a sculpture or a drawing too explicit a title takes away part of that mystery so that the spectator moves on to the next object, making no effort to ponder the meaning of what he has just seen.''

If the two Henry Moore statues you've seen today made an impression, you may want to plan a visit to his Nuclear Energy statue in Hyde Park.

Chase Plaza

Head back to Dearborn and continue south. Dominating the next block is the curved Chase Tower and the large plaza at its feet. Courtesy of the Russian-Jewish painter Marc Chagall, this plaza has become a must-see attraction for art lovers in Chicago. The Four Seasons is a 70 foot long mosaic/mural featuring light-hearted surrealist depictions of Chicago. After you have finished here continue south on Dearborn Street.

Federal Plaza
Two blocks down Dearborn from Chase Plaza is Federal Plaza, a full city block planned by renowned modernist architect Mies Van der Rohe. In the center of the plaza is the second Alexander Calder statue of the day, The Flamingo. Whimsical and constructivist (meaning: constructed of big industrial materials bolted together) are not words that usually belong side by side, but both Calder statues of the day nonetheless fit this description. The giant "Calder-red" flamingo poses a graceful, curving counterpoint to the hard edges and straight lines of the surrounding skyscrapers that reflect the statue in their windows.

The next sculpture is eight stories tall, but easy to miss! Head south across Adams Street and then head around to the backside of the building on the left. Behind this building and on the side of another is Sol Lewitt's monumental, yet very understated Lines in Four Directions. The sculpture consists of four giant panels covered in long strips of aluminum painted white, facing in four directions (hence the title). Similar to David Smith's Cubi VII back at the Art Institute, the emphasis here is on how one work of art can change depending on its environment and the position of the viewer. Depending on where you are standing, and the day's lighting, different patterns will emerge as the light hits the differently aligned aluminum strips.

If you are feeling tired, now is a good time to call an early day — you've already seen the most famous of Chicago's downtown sculptures. Otherwise, head south on to Jackson Boulevard and make a right.

CBoT

The Metcalfe Federal Building's lobby on the left at the intersection of Jackson and Clark contains another larger than life statue. Frank Stella has created a whole series of Moby Dick related abstract sculptures; this one is named after a specific chapter, The Town-Ho's Story. It's a terrific mess of 13,000 lbs. of steel and aluminum. The link to Melville's novel is not very clear, but the sculpture is impressive and purposefully abrasive.

The next block of Jackson Boulevard is the gigantic Art Deco Chicago Board of Trade Building (CBoT). The main lobby itself is a work of art, and a good quick stop along the way. From here turn up LaSalle Street. Turn left at Adams Street and cross the intersection to stop in the building at 190 South LaSalle Street to admire its beautiful lobby. The high vaulted ceiling is covered with $1 million of gold leaf, but lest you strain your neck, focus your attention on the large bronze statue at the end of the room, Chicago Fugue (Sir Anthony Caro). The statue is a cubist jumble of musical instrument-like shapes: a keyboard, organ pedals, cymbals, and any others you may "find" in it. The lobby's leather couches are another good reason to come in here, by the way.

Willis Tower
The final stretch of the tour takes you another three blocks west on Adams Street. When you reach Wacker Drive, turn left around the Sears Tower and head into the main lobby. The Sears Tower likely needs no introduction, but the massive art installation inside is less well known. In the Heart of this Infinite Particle of Dust is the last of the day's sculptures, by Jacob Hashimoto. The cloud-like work is made up of 7,000 individual disks suspended from the ceiling, with varying lengths of string.

Your tour ends here in the Sears Tower, and you might want to take this opportunity to ride the 20 miles per hour elevator to the Sears Tower Skydeck for some grand views of the journey you've just taken.

If you are thinking of dinner at this point, you are just a block away from the Quincy L station — you have your choice of neighborhoods to visit for dinner. Some especially good "ethnic" dining options not too far from the Loop are in Greektown a short walk across the river, Chinatown to the south (Red Line), and authentic Mexican cuisine in Pilsen (Pink Line).

Go next

 * Along the Magnificent Mile

title: Loop Art Tour


text:
Lopburi

Lopburi (ลพบุรี), also Lop Buri or Lob Buri is a historic city 3 hours north of Bangkok in the Chao Phraya Basin region of Thailand. Lopburi has a mountain called Khao Chan Daeng.

Understand
Lopburi is very laid back, and its convenient location less than 3 hours (~180 km) from Bangkok makes it a good place to escape the stress and pollution of the capital.

History
Lopburi, formerly known as Lavapuri or Lavo is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. Thus the remains of almost all periods of Thai history can be found. According to the "Chronicle of the North", it was founded in 468 AD by colonists from India, who named the place after Lava, a son of Rama and Sita in the Indian Ramayana epic. Around the 7th and 8th centuries, it was one of the main centres of the Buddhist Dvaravati network. After the 10th century, the city belonged to the sphere of influence of Angkor. There is some debate whether it was a mere province of the Khmer Empire, or a semi-autonomous polity ruled by a Viceroy.

In the 13th century, it came under Thai influence. Lopburi was one of the roots from which Ayutthaya emerged in 1350. Lopburi remained the second capital of the Siamese kingdom. Typically, a younger brother or the eldest son of the king resided in Lopburi, ruling as a "second king" and heir presumptive. The city's importance waned when Phitsanulok became the "second capital" in the 15th century.

In the 17th century, however, King Narai moved his favourite residence from Ayutthaya to Lopburi, spending eight months a year here. A French traveller of that time wrote that Lopburi was "for the kingdom of Siam what Versailles is for France". Narai was open to Western influences, inviting French missionaries and making the Greek adventurer Constantine Phaulkon one of his leading ministers. Lopburi was abandoned after the overthrow of King Narai by anti-Western forces in 1688. Parts of the ancient city were restored in 1856 by King Mongkut (Rama IV) who made Lopburi his summer residence in 1864.

Orientation
There are two central areas in Lopburi: New Town and Old Town. Most of the important sites, plus the train station, are in the Old Town; buses arrive and depart from the New Town.

Monkeys
Lopburi is famous for the hundreds of crab-eating macaques that overrun the Old Town, especially in the area around Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kaan Shrine, and there's even a monkey temple/amusement park where you can buy snacks to feed to them.

Keep an eye out for monkeys hanging from trees and wires and sitting on roofs and ledges, and be aware that they have some unpleasant bad habits including defecating on unsuspecting pedestrians from their overhead perches, jumping on people to snatch food and stealing bags that they suspect may contain something edible.

Dogs
At night nothing much is going on in the Old Town, thus the street dogs consider everybody running around after midnight very suspicious. While most of them will just look at you, some might bark, run behind you and jump at you. While common at night, it is very rare during the day.

By bus
From Ayutthaya, local buses run every 20 mins, take around 2 hours and cost 35 baht.

There is a minibus service from Mo Chit to Lopburi.

From Kanchanaburi it's necessary to take a local bus to Suphanburi taking 2 hours and costing 50 baht, then another from there to Lopburi taking 3 hours and costing 52 baht.

From Sukhothai take a bus to Phitsanulok and then to Nakhon Sawan first.

By minibus
From Bangkok, air conditioned minivans leave from the main Mo Chit (northern) bus station, take about 2 hours and cost 110 baht. There are several van services in the area, so if the timing for one service does not work, try another. The last minivan departs around 18:00.

By train

Trains from/to Bangkok's main Hualamphong station take about 3 hours. Take the Northern Line from Hua Lamphong Railway Station everyday, many rounds per day.

Trains from/to Ayutthaya take about one hour and cost 20 baht for third class. For a second class ticket (air conditioned carriage) of an express train the price is 260 baht.

By car

 * From Bangkok, take Hwy 1 (Phahonyothin Rd) passing Phra Phutthabat District, Saraburi, onto Lopburi. The total distance is 153 km.
 * From Bangkok, take Hwy 32 which separates from Hwy 1, passing Ayutthaya. There are three routes as follows:
 * Enter Bang Pahan District, passing Nakhon Luang District into Rte 3196. Then, pass Ban Phraek District onto Lopburi.
 * Enter at the Ang Thong Interchange to Tha Ruea District and turn left onto Rte 3196, passing Ban Phraek District onto Lopburi.
 * Pass Ang Thong, Singburi, and take Rte 311 (Singburi–Lopburi), passing Tha Wung District onto Lopburi.

Get around
The blue local bus (8 baht) circles constantly between the bus station about 2 km from the town centre, passing Phra Kahn Shrine, going south on Sorasak Rd, and ending up in front of the TAT office on Phraya Kamuad Rd.

Buy
If you are going to be in Lopburi long-term, you will need the services of the two department stores. There is a Big C mall in town, with a KFC, along with a Tesco Lotus in the Monkey Mall further down. The latter has a very large outdoor market in the evenings.

Eat
The street vendors in the Old Town are very nice and have all kinds of tasty things. In the evenings, a lot of street food stalls are set up on a road in front of railway station.

Drink
You might find the nightlife in Lopburi fairly quiet for a town of its size but there are a selection of places to catch a drink in the evening. Old Town has a few curbside bars, which are excellent for those who are still new to Thailand, as there are usually some foreigners about. There is also a small club (look for the large "Ben More" sign) next to a local park near the train station in the Old Town, but it is a little pricier than average.

The centre of town has a variety of places, from hole in the wall local dives, to "The Bank", a disco that is frequented by Lopburi's young crowd, but is not recommended for foreigners unless you know your way around well. Uptown has few drinking establishments on the main road, but there are a variety of karaoke bars and such down the back roads. Some of these out-of-the-way places are OK for a drink and some offer short-term female company but this not recommended for the newcomers.

Old Town
Hotels in the Old Town offer generally similar medium scale standards for 140-500 baht. The monkeys run around freely, but usually stay in just one small area. Depending on your preference you can choose a place with lots of monkeys running (and hanging) around, or opt for somewhere with low or no monkey presence.

Go next

 * Sing Buri, 30 km northwest
 * Ang Thong, 40 km southwest
 * Saraburi, 50 km southeast
 * Ayutthaya, 60 km south

title: Lopburi


text:
Lopé National Park

Lopé National Park is in the Central Highlands region of Gabon. The Lopé-Okanda ecosystem and landscape was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.

History
The wildlife reserve was established in 1946, the first in the country.

Landscape
Most of the park consists of rainforests. In the north, there is wide savannah that was created 15,000 years ago during the Ice Age.

See
There is a small research station named Mikongo, run by the Zoological Society of London. It is based in the village of the same name, which has some tourist infrastructure.

title: Lopé National Park


text:
Lopez Island

Lopez Island is the third largest island in the San Juan Islands.

Understand
Compared to its larger neighbors Orcas Island and San Juan Island, Lopez has a more bucolic charm. It is relatively flat and most of it remains quite undeveloped. This is a conscious decision by local residents, who prefer a rural lifestyle, even if it means forgoing modern conveniences such as phone service, and being underpopulated enough to be considered flyover space by the pilots at Whidbey Island Air Force Base. Many residents rely heavily on local agriculture, as high prices make it cost-prohibitive for many residents to eat imported food out of season.

Get around
Bring a car on the ferry. While the roads are great for cycling, you won't want to bike the whole way to the South End. There is an island taxi service but it is not reliable.

See
Be sure to check out Odlin Park and Spencer's Spit, located near the ferry landing, Otis Perkis beach, near Fisherman Bay, and Agate Beach, on the South End of the island. Also on the South End are such local favorite spots as Watmough Bay and Aleck Bay.

Do
Lopez Island features some of the best natural parks and preserves in the San Juan Islands. Locals and tourist enjoy spending their time hiking, biking and kayaking. The locals are very community orientated. The library, community center, and grange feature events each week from concerts to guest speakers. Lopez is a place to escape the busy world and appreciate nature and community. Locals ask that you stay on the marked hiking trails and practice leave no trace.

Buy
Some of the island's businesses include:

Eat
Lopez Island has few restaurants:

Drink
All restaurants serve drinks on Lopez but The Islander Resort, Galley bar and Haven have a dedicated bar. Vita's is a gourmet deli and wine bar. You can buy wine by the bottle or glass. The grocery store has a large selection of beer, wine and Liquor but closes early.

Sleep
The island features two hotels. The Edenwild Boutique Inn is a small hotel located in Lopez Village and is open year-round. Most of the island's shops and restaurants are walk-able from this location. A bike and kayak rental shop is located onsite that also offers rentals and whale tours. The Islander Resort features a pool, restaurant/bar, marina and proximity to kayak and bike rental shop. Mackaye Harbor Inn is the only B&B on the island and is open during the spring and summer months. Most lodging on the island requires reservations. Vacation home rentals require that their owners' post a County Vacation Home Permit in their listing to be a legal accommodation.

Go next
The other San Juan islands: Orcas Island and San Juan Island

title: Lopez Island


text:
Lorain

Lorain is a city of 64,000 people (2019) 30 miles west of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. A former industrial center for shipbuilding, auto manufacturing, and steel, like other Rust Belt cities, the city faces population decline and urban decay.

Understand
The city sits on the shore of Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River. The city is Ohio's tenth largest city, the third largest in Greater Cleveland, and the largest in Lorain County by population.

History
The city began as an unincorporated village, Charleston, in 1834. It was incorporated as a village under the name Lorain in 1874 and became a city in 1896.

The 1924 Lorain–Sandusky tornado hit the city on June 28, 1924. The tornado formed over the Sandusky Bay during the late afternoon hours and hit Sandusky, where it killed eight people and destroyed 100 homes and 25 businesses. After moving east over Lake Erie for several miles, the tornado then struck Lorain, killing 72. Among the dead were 15 people inside a collapsed theater, which makes it the worst tornado-related death toll from a single building in Ohio. Eight people were also killed inside the Bath House near the location where the tornado came onshore.

The city's economy has focused on heavy industry. Major industrial operations included the American Shipbuilding Lorain Yard on the City's east side, the Ford Motor Company Lorain Assembly Plant on the City's west side, and the steel production sector on the City's south side, NW consisting of the United States Steel and Republic Steel companies.

The American Shipbuilding Lorain Yard closed in 1983, urging more than 1,500 people out of work. The Ford Lorain Assembly Plant ceased production operations in 2005. In March 2020, US Steel idled its Lorain mill indefinitely, laying off 250 workers. At its peak in 1982, it had employed 8,600 people.

Get in
The City of Lorain is located on Erie Ave (Route 6 east/west) and Broadway (Route 57 north/south).

Amherst is south of Lorain, Vermilion to the west of Lorain and Sheffield Lake is to the east.

The easiest way driving into Lorain from the west is to take Exit 10 from Route 2 and head north into Lorain — about a 10-minute drive. From the East, take Exit 151 from Route 2 and head due west on Route 611 (Colorado Ave) into Lorain — also about 10 minutes.

See

 * Lorain International Festival. Every year, as part of the festival, there is a pageant of princesses who each represent their heritage.
 * Lorain International Festival. Every year, as part of the festival, there is a pageant of princesses who each represent their heritage.
 * Lorain International Festival. Every year, as part of the festival, there is a pageant of princesses who each represent their heritage.
 * Lorain International Festival. Every year, as part of the festival, there is a pageant of princesses who each represent their heritage.

Go next

 * Sandusky
 * Cleveland

title: Lorain


text:
Lorain County

Lorain County is in Northeast Ohio. Located a short distance west of Cleveland, Ohio and east of Sandusky, Ohio, along the North Coast and shore of Lake Erie. The county seat is Elyria, Ohio. The Black River flows north through the county and into Lake Erie at Lorain.

Other destinations

 * Findley State Park southern Lorain County, 25381 State Route 58, Wellington, 272 non-electric camp sites, fully stocked camp store, sand volleyball, basketball court, two horseshoe pits, 93-acre lake, two launch ramps, canoes, rowboats, paddleboats and ten miles of hiking trails. Eight miles of singletrack mountain biking.
 * Findley Lake and Dam
 * Lake Erie Lake Erie is the shallowest, warmest and southernmost of the Great Lakes, and is the 12th largest freshwater lake in the world. Erie's shallowness adds to its treacherous reputation; she can go from flat calm to a raging beast in less than 20 minutes. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
 * Lake Erie Shipwrecks Lake Erie has over 1700 shipwrecks, of which only approximately 277 have been found and salvaged, or located by divers and remain on the bottom. Over 6000 shipwrecks are known to have occurred Great Lakes-wide, with Lake Erie claiming the most at 1700. Lorain's offshore waters hold some of the best wrecks for diving in Lake Erie. Popular destination shipwrecks offshore of the Lorain area include: Morning Star, City of Concord, Courtland, Hickory Stick, Sarah Sheldon, Ivanhoe, Craftsman, Alva B, John Pridgeon Jr., and the Duke Luedtke just to mention a few. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
 * Back Roads and Beaches Bike and Multi-Sport Route Miles of rolling, rural roads with beautiful scenery ranging from farmland and forest to the nautical flavor of the Lake Erie Shoreline. The route provides the most scenic and low traffic routes that lead riders through some of Ohio's best landscape. It also highlights some of the area's most relevant history, culture, arts and cutting-edge environmental initiatives. The BRaB tour only highlights eateries that feature locally grown produce, organics, healthy choices and spectacular outdoor views of natural areas. The route travels through several small towns and cities in Lorain County. The tour is popular with both touring cyclists as well as training athletes and triathletes. The tour features abundant Underground Railroad history as well as six wineries and a number of art galleries along the way.

Mileage and Terrain: Most of the route is relatively flat with a few rolling sections. You will find some challenging climbs in the northwest section, just south of Vermilion.

 * Black River and Lake Erie Kayaking - Kayakers of all skill levels will be comfortable on the Black River and/or Lake Erie. Lake Erie offers spectacular scenery, birding and up-close views of the Lorain Lighthouse. From here you can kayak on Lake Erie, inside or outside the breakwall.
 * Mountain Biking The almost 10 mile Thorn Mountain Biking trail at Findley State Park has beautiful forested single track with options for beginner to expert.
 * Cascade Park Elyria. Features beautiful twin waterfalls that mark the union of the east and west branches of the Black River. Explore the shale cliffs and natural formations created by the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier over 12,000 years ago.
 * Lakeview Beach and Park On SR 6 in Lorain. Newly restored, this is one of the nicest beaches on Lake Erie with a brand new bathhouse that overlooks Lake Erie and the Lorain Lighthouse. It is one of Lorain County's most picturesque beaches. Historic fountain is lit up at night.
 * Lake Erie Central Basin Sport Fishing - Sport fishing in Lorain County consists of walleye fishing in Lake Erie, to fishing the numerous tributary streams for trophy steelhead. Walleye are considered the most-pursued game fish on Lake Erie, and in Lorain County waters, they are caught along Lorain County's rocky nearshore beginning in the spring and continuing through the entire season. Deeper offshore waters offer anglers plenty of walleye action during the summer and fall months, with both trolling and drifting/cast methods being productive. Limit catches and trophy sized fish are trademarks of our Lake Erie waters. The well-known sandbar, located between Lorain and Vermilion, creates a natural habitat for summer and fall walleye, producing many trophy-size walleye in late October and November. Smallmouth bass are plentiful along the entire length of Lorain County's rocky shoreline and artificial reef structures, providing fast action from spring through fall. (Dave Kelch, Ohio State University Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant)
 * Underground Railroad History While northern Lorain County established itself as a manufacturing mecca, a tiny town miles to the south put itself on the map for a different reason. Oberlin would come to be known as "The Town that Started the Civil War." Students and faculty of Oberlin College were especially sympathetic to fugitive slaves. Today the college's Underground Railroad sculpture, dramatic railroad tracks that emerge from the ground, is surrounded by a healing garden of flowering and leafed plants used by slaves on their road to freedom. The Oberlin Heritage Center and the Spirit of '76 Museum in Wellington are valuable resources for more on the area's role in the civil War. Throughout Lorain County, churches, cemeteries, historic homes and peaceful parks collectively tell America's story of freedom. "On the Trail to Freedom," is a program developed in 1992 by Visit Lorain County which guides visitors to points of interest on the Underground Railroad.
 * Allen Memorial Art Museum One of the finest college or university collections in the United States, comprising more than 12,000 works of art from virtually every culture.
 * Frank Lloyd Wright - Weltzheimer/Johnson House The first Usonian house in Ohio and one of the few in the nation open to the public.

Understand
Lorain county is rich with history, with almost every city within having some kind of historical museums. However, you will find that most residents, especially younger people, will not even be aware of their own town's history. Take a trip to the local Historical Society in whichever town you are visiting to get a good overview of the history.

By boat
There is no public transportation available via boat, how ever there are day site seeing cruises available on Lake Erie.

By car

 * SR 6 E/W 2 lane follows lake shore. Scenic.
 * SR 2 E/W 4 lane.
 * I 80/90 Turnpike E/W Indiana to Pennsylvania
 * SR 58 2 lane N/S

Get around
You may rent a car at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport if you are flying in. Taxis are available, but for long distances you will pay a pretty penny.

Enterprise and Hertz have local rental offices.

See
The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts in downtown Oberlin hosts changing exhibits of high quality visual art year round.

Do

 * The Lorain County Fair in Wellington offers a week-long family activity with rides, crafts, live music, and their famous demolition derby. You can also take a ride on an old fashion steam train.
 * Lake Erie Crushers Professional Baseball are Lorain County's professional minor league baseball team. The Crushers play in Avon.
 * Speedway Slots and Hobbies in Amherst slot car racing on a 100-ft and a 160-ft road course track.
 * Bonnie Brae Farms in Wellington is a champion Elk farm in Ohio's gorgeous rolling countryside. On special days, tours of the farm are available.
 * Miller's Apple Hill in Amherst — pick apples or browse the bulk food store.
 * Golf courses, ranging in price and difficulty level, include Forest Hills Golf Course in Elyria, and Bob-O-Link Golf Course, in Avon.
 * Oberlin College in Oberlin plays host to a multitude of events, ranging from concerts, to theatre performances, to speakers, and festivals year round.
 * Splash Zone in Oberlin is Lorain County's aquatic complex.
 * Stocker Arts Center in Elyria is one of Ohio's top performance and visual arts venues: music, theatre, dance performances, and gallery exhibitions.
 * Schoeple Garden in Birmingham, south of Vermilion, is composed of 70 acres of beautiful botanical gardens and natural woodland.

Buy
Main Street Oberlin has fantastic art boutiques, clothing shops, restaurants, and specialty shops in a historic downtown district. Main Street Wellington offers shopping opportunities and an array of historic homes dating as far back as the 1830s. Main Street Vermilion is filled with specialty shops, restaurants, art galleries, and well-maintained captains' homes. Main Street Amherst has striking sandstone architecture, wonderful shopping opportunities and a tangible sense of the town's rich history.

Jamie's Flea Market in Amherst is Northeast Ohio's largest flea market.

Grobe Fruit Farm in Elyria offers fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, and pasteurized cider.

Drink
The region's is home to several wineries, including John Christ Winery and Klingshirn Winery in Avon Lake, Matus Winery in Wakeman west of Oberlin, and Paper Moon Vineyards and Vermilion Valley Vineyards in Wakeman west of Oberlin.

Stay safe
Lorain County is a safe place to be. Theft can be an issue however. Make sure your car is locked, and all personal items within your possession.

Go next

 * Cleveland
 * Akron
 * Cedar Point
 * Sandusky
 * Put-in-Bay
 * Middle Bass Island

Adjacent counties

 * Ashland County
 * Cuyahoga County
 * Erie County
 * Huron County
 * Medina County

title: Lorain County


text:
Lorane

Lorane is a city in Oregon.

By bicycle
Lorane is a popular bicycle destination. It is about a 30-mile ride from Eugene, along rural roads.

Sleep
There is no place to spend the night in Lorane.

title: Lorane


text:
Lorca

Lorca is the third most populated city in the Murcia region, inhabited by approximately 93,000 people (2018). Placed inland, it's a baroque and renaissance city overlooked by its castle. Its Holy Week processions are renowned, just like its Lorca Rock Festival, also celebrated yearly.

Understand
During the Roman period it was ancient Ilura or Heliocroca of the Romans. In the Middle Ages Lorca was the frontier town between Christian and Muslim Spain.

The city was seriously damaged by a magnitude 5.1 earthquake on 11 May 2011, killing at least nine people. Due to a shallow hypocenter, the earthquake was much more destructive than usual for earthquakes with similar magnitude.

Climate
Lorca has a warm climate, typical of southeast Spain, with an average annual temperature between 17 and 18 °C. The characteristics of this climate are due to the situation of the municipality, sheltered from the Atlantic storms. Western wet fronts release water when it hit the Betic Cordillera, which separates the Lorca area of depression of the Guadalquivir, which penetrate the winds off the Atlantic. Rainfall usually occur in torrents, falling mostly in a few days of the fall or spring, with very dry summers. The winters are usually mild with mean temperatures below 9 °C. Summers are hot, 36 °C is the common maximum temperature in July and August, although it sometimes reaches more than 40 °C. Due to the size and topographical fluctuation of the municipality, not all areas report the same rainfall and temperatures.

See

 * Calle Corredera, the main pedestrian street of the city
 * The Casino
 * The Guevara Palace
 * Archaeological Museum
 * The Alameda boulevard
 * Mount Calvary, a scenic viewpoint
 * Porche de San Antonio, a remaining tower of the former citadel
 * The Guerra Theatre
 * Huerto Ruano country house
 * Huerto Ruano country house

Do
There are many beaches in its 8 km (5 mi) litoral stretch of the coast line surrounded by hills with coves with sparse to dense vegetation. Some of the popular beaches are:
 * The Calnegre, a sand beach, 1200 m long and 20 m wide, is peaceful with the calm sea.
 * Cala Leña, part of the Blana Cove with backdrop of hills covered with good vegetation and facing crystal clear sea water.
 * El Ciscar, a gravel beach surrounded by low hills.
 * El Muerto beach with volcanic black sand and rock faces.
 * La Galera gravel beach in the backdrop of a cove and rock cliffs covered by vegetation.
 * Los Hierros, a gravel beach.
 * Larga beach, a 500-m-wide gravel beach.
 * La Junquera, a small gravely beach with rocky landforms.

title: Lorca


text:
Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO world heritage declared island around 600 km off the coast of New South Wales. A place of unique beauty with volcanic mountains and rainforest lying between surf and lagoon beaches. Lord Howe has the world's most southerly coral reef, with an amazing diversity of marine life, and several species only seen in the waters of the island.

History
The island was discovered in May 1788 by the HMS Supply, on a voyage from the newly settled Sydney town. There is no evidence of any human habitation of the island prior to this. The island soon became a supply point on trips to Norfolk Island, as well as a base for whaling.

The lagoon of the island was used until 1974 as a stopover point for flying boats to America and New Zealand, as well as to bring visitors to the island.

Geography
Lord Howe Island is crescent-shaped, 10 km long and 1.5 km wide at its greatest width. The island forms the top of an extinct underwater volcano and seamount, projecting above the surface of the ocean. The eastern facing crescent of the island, together with a reef, forms a lagoon on the eastern side of the island. The water here is generally calm. On the western side of the island there are several sandy surf beaches.

People
The population of Lord Howe Island is approximately 350 people. Only 400 tourists are permitted to visit the island at any one time. Unlike on an island resort, the people who are providing services to you are likely to be residents of the island. Some families have lived there for generations. The people have a genuine affection for the island, and knowledge of the best spots to snorkel, walk, and picnic. The non-existent mobile phone network is substituted by a people network, with messages passing between locals and tourists when they encounter each other around the island. If you are seeking genuine warmth rather than the superficial niceties, the people of Lord Howe won't disappoint, with the superficial niceties being a bonus.

Climate
The best weather on Lord Howe is undoubtably in summer. The warm summer months, tempered by the oceanic breeze, matches the island outdoor lifestyle. Winter is cooler, rainier, and windier. Tropical cyclones do occur on the island, but they are rare.

By plane
Lord Howe Island has a small airport, with a notoriously difficult landing. This restricts operations to small turboprops only. QantasLink fly daily (more frequently in summer) from Sydney using Dash 8-200 36 seater aircraft, while Eastern Air Services operate small 10 seater twin props to Lord Howe a few times a week from Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Gold Coast. Flight time is roughly two hours. If you have anything in the way of significant luggage (or fear of flying) you'll likely find QantasLink the better option.

Due to the limited number of seats, it is essential to book in advance, at the same time as you book your accommodation. Whichever route you choose, fares hover around $1000-$1200 return, making this by some margin the most expensive domestic air route in Australia. Qantas do release a (very) limited number of reward seats which can be purchased with frequent flier points. As Qantas set the "price" in points for their flights by distance rather than the equivalent cash fare, this represents good value.

The airport at Lord Howe has a terminal building with a kiosk open for departing flights, toilets, and a waiting area. There is also an outside area where you can sit and watch the arrivals and departures.

All services are met, and you'll be asked where you are staying as you arrive.

Weather conditions can sometimes be hazardous for landing on Lord Howe, and it's not unheard of for flights to make the entire trip to the island, only to fail to land and return back to the mainland. This is particularly the case in the winter months. Aircraft weight and balance frequently sees luggage left behind, to travel on a flight the next day or later the same day.

If you are planning to dive on Lord Howe Island, bear in mind that there is no decompression chamber on the island. Be sure to follows the rules regarding diving within 24 hours of flying.

Get around
The main roads of the island connecting the airport, accommodation, restaurants and golf club are within easy cycling distance. The bicycle comes into its own and is the most popular form of transport, with bike racks situated everywhere.

Walking is easily possible around the town and between most accommodation and the beaches.

The island's roads have a slow speed limit.

There is no taxi service or public transport on the island. All accommodation providers include transport to and from the airport on arrival, and transport to dinner at 6:30PM. The restaurants all provide transport back to your accommodation after your meal.

See
Look around, it is a beautiful place. The views from high vantage points are amazing. There are also many places to visit like the remnants of the underwater volcano.

Do

Lord Howe Island is very much geared up for outdoor recreation: bush walking, trekking, guided and self-guided walks, fish feeding, swimming, surfing, Scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, bird-watching and reef walks are all popular. Sports are also an option: golf, tennis and bowls especially. Deep sea, rock and shore fishing charters are available. For the more laid back, options include picnics, barbecues, bicycling and dining out. Available for hire are golf clubs, tennis racquets, bicycles and helmets, scuba and snorkelling gear, paddle skis and spy boards.

 * Tennis. The court is opposite Thompson's Store.  Hire is $10 per hour, book at the store.  Racquets and balls are available.
 * Golf. Clubs are available at the clubhouse.  The course is meticulously maintained.  Green fees of $40 are due, and payable via an honour system at the clubhouse.
 * Snorkel. There is snorkelling available off just about every beach on the island.  Ned's Beach is the jewel in the crown, with corals, tropical and reef fish just metres from the shore.  Some of the best accessible snorkelling is at Escott's Reef, near the edge of the reef off the airport.  It is a fair swim from shore, and a boat trip may be in order for this one.  Comet's Hole is the best place to see the Galapagos Shark, around 100m offshore from the airport runway.  Hawkbill turtles can be seen around the lagoon and Ned's.  Green turtles are best seen munching on the sea-grass off Old Settlement Beach.  You can rent snorkels at Wilsons, or on the beach at Ned's.
 * Dive. Several operators run SCUBA trips to the surrounding reef areas, and to nearly Balls Pyramid.
 * Glass Bottom Boating
 * Kayaking
 * Stand up Paddleboards
 * Bushwalking. The most popular walk is up to Malabar Ridge.  The best approach is from the track that meets the road about 50m short of Ned's beach.  Like everything else on Lord Howe, once you leave the lagoon some hills are involved.  You ascent the ridge, to lookout over the birdlife living on the cliffs overlooking the turquoise sea.  You can walk further to Kim's lookout, and descend via the North Bay track to Old Settlement Beach.  Serious walkers can pre-book full-day guided walks up Mount Gower.
 * Fishing. Spear fishing is not permitted.
 * Fish Feeding. The food dispenser on Ned's takes $1 coins.
 * Jetty Jumping. A favourite with the kids at high tide.

Money
Only Australian currency is accepted on Lord Howe Island. Foreign currency and travellers cheques are not accepted or exchanged. Credit cards are accepted widely but not everywhere. A surcharge of around 2% applies to using credit cards at many places, with Australian EFTPOS being an alternative for which there is no surcharge. There are two banks on the island, Westpac and Commonwealth open some hours on weekdays. The post-office is an agent for some others. There is a single ATM on the island, just inside the entrance door to the Bowling Club, with the entrance door (like most other doors on Lord Howe) usually open.

Island prices are generally higher than mainland prices owing to freight costs and the size of the market. Expect to pay a little more than you would in a convenience store in a capital city, say around $5.10 for a litre of milk, and around the same for a loaf of bread or $9.90 for a loaf of sourdough.

Supplies
There are three small shops on the island that carry groceries, liquor, fruit, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, clothing, souvenirs and snacks. You have to choose from what is available. If supplies of an item dwindle, don't expect to see it restocked until the day after the ship arrives.

 * Joy's Shop. Just before Heartbreak Hill on Middle Beach Road, up from the museum. The largest range of food and other supplies on the island.
 * Joy's Shop. Just before Heartbreak Hill on Middle Beach Road, up from the museum. The largest range of food and other supplies on the island.

Local produce
There is also a small hairdressing salon, limited beauty and masseur facilities and arts and crafts.

 * The Beach Boutique

Eat
There is a choice of restaurants on Lord Howe, catering mainly to a high end market. Expect to pay up around $25 for mains at the clubs, and $35 to $55 most other places. Limited choice is usually the order of the day, expect only four or so dishes on the menu each night, and for half of them to be locally caught fish.

The general arrangement is to book your restaurant for the night before noon. There is usually a booking sheet out the front of each restaurant for this purpose if you want to cycle around, or you can call them from the free phone out the front of Thompson's Store. You should then put your name down at your accommodation for a lift, and the restaurant will then provide you with transport home. Because of this arrangement, with accommodation providing a lift at 6:30PM, dinner commences at this time.

For lunch, Thompson's Store sells hamburgers around $8 each 11AM-2PM. You can get rolls and sandwiches from the Anchorage or from the Coral Cafe for around $15 until 2PM.

Most accommodation has some facilities for preparing your own food. There are barbecues on the beach, well stocked with wood, but you will need matches and probably firelighters.

You should have a good plan for where and how you are eating each day. Restaurants do book out. The lunch take-away option is gone from 2PM. Shops close for provisions around 6PM. Making a decision on dinner at 5PM can mean you go hungry.

 * Pandanus. Modern Australian on week nights, with a slightly cheaper Asian menu on Saturday and Sunday nights.
 * Beach House on the Moon. Only open two nights a week.  Communal eating, as reasonably priced as anywhere.
 * The Anchorage. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with bookings only really necessary for dinner. Even if you haven't booked, you may still get a table here.  Right in the centre of town, with Steak and seafood to match any on the mainland. Around $35 for a main. Also good for a coffee and a muffin any time of day.
 * Bowling Club. Pie night Monday night. Closed for dinner Saturday night.
 * Golf Club. Pizza night Sunday night. Make sure to book well in advance to watch the sun go down from the balcony.

Drink
There are no pubs on Lord Howe, but there is a bar at the Bowling Club and the Golf Club with a mix of locals and visitors. The Crooked Post near the lagoon is a small cocktail bar specialising in island-inspired cocktails. Friday night tends to be the biggest night, but even then things tend to be quiet by 9PM. Most people aren't at Lord Howe for the nightlife.

Sleep
Lord Howe Island is small, so location doesn't usually come much into play when deciding where to stay. However, there is a small ridge along the island, and some accommodation is at the top of the hill. Due to the strict limit on visitors and the limited accommodation, it is absolutely essential to book your accommodation in advance, at the same time as booking your flight.

Connect
There are no mobile phone towers on Lord Howe Island, and consequently no mobile phone reception of any kind. There are coin operated public phones in town, and at several locations around the island.

Internet (two terminals + Wi-Fi) is available for a fee at the visitor information centre when it is open. Some accommodation providers have Wi-Fi or terminals as well. The Internet connections aren't particularly fast, and if something breaks that needs replacement, it can be unavailable for weeks.

Australia Post has a postal agency on Lord Howe Island open M-F 9AM-1PM & 2PM-4PM. From Sep-May airmail is dispatched and received every day except Friday. In the winter months, mail is dispatched whenever flights operate.

The MV Island Trader provides a surface freight link with Port Macquarie every fortnight. The arrival of the boat can be quite an event in itself. Every local will be able to tell you when the boat is due, and the whole population can turn up at the post office to collect their consigned shopping. You'll see the pallets heading up from the boat to the shops, and soon after the fresh produce and other selections hit the shelves. Expect whatever you see come ashore to be on the menu and in the shops for the next couple of weeks.

Stay safe
Although the island walks are well formed, all the cliffs are unfenced. Some of the island's lookouts are named for the people who have fallen and died there. Take care near the cliff edges. The island locals will tell of occasions where people have broken limbs on the Gower walk, having to wait in the bush overnight while a rescue helicopter is sent from the mainland.

Cope
The island has a small hospital, with a doctor resident on the island on-call. He is used to stitching up all kinds of bicycle related falls, but for anything more serious a medivac to the mainland may be required.

Go next
Unless you arrived by yacht or private aircraft, the only connections are back to the Australian East Coast or New Zealand.

title: Lord Howe Island


text:
Lore Lindu National Park

Lore Lindu National Park is in Central Sulawesi of Indonesia.

Understand
Lore Lindu National Park is a forested protected area of 2,180 km², covering lowland and montane forests. It provides habitat to numerous rare species, including 77 bird species endemic to Sulawesi. The national park is designated as part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition to its rich wildlife, the park also contains megaliths dating from before 1300 AD.

Get in
The main gateways to Lore Lindu is Tentena from the east and Palu from the north. From Tentena a public jeep leaves daily with a charge of Rp 100,000 per person. Another option is to charter a private jeep which is approximately 1-1,500,000.

Do
Trekking in the national park. The cloud forests and the highlands offer stunning scenery, albeit the undulating terrain can be tough (especially after rainfall), and for a lot of the treks are guide is required. Although Lore Lindu is almost bang on the equator, nights can be surprisingly cold (8 °C is not uncommon), so bringing a sleeping bag is highly recommendable.

The beautiful valleys offer easier hiking among ricefields, with the beautiful view of the surrounding, highly forested mountains. Bada valley is a must-see for the megalights here.

Sleep
Some of the villages (Doda, Bomba), offer cheap stay in the basic losmen. Expect Rp 100,000-150,000 per person per night for a bed and 2 meals.

title: Lore Lindu National Park


text:
Lorentz National Park

Lorentz National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern and central Papua province of Indonesia, which is located on the western half of the island of New Guinea.

Understand
Lorentz National Park is the largest protected area in Asia and contains Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid), which at 4,884 m is the tallest mountain between the Himalayas and the Andes and the highest island peak in the world. Puncak Jaya is surrounded by equatorial glaciers, which are rapidly retreating due to the effects of global warming. It is sometimes considered to be one of the Seven Summits.

Flora and fauna
Lorentz National Park has 630 documented species of bird (around 95% of the total number of bird species in Papua) and 123 mammalian species. Birds include two species of cassowary, 31 dove and pigeon species, 500 species of cockatoo, 60 species of kingfisher and 145 species of sunbird. Six bird species are endemic to the Snow Mountains including the Snow Mountain quail and Snow Mountains robin, 26 species are endemic to the Central Papuan Ranges while three are endemic to the South Papuan Lowlands. Threatened species include the southern cassowary, Alpine woolly rat, southern crowned pigeon, Pesquet's parrot, Salvadori's teal and Macgregor's giant honeyeater.

The mammal species include the long-beaked echidna, short-beaked echidna, and four species of cuscus as well as wallabies, quolls and tree-kangaroos. Endemic to the Sudirman Range is the dingiso, a tree-kangaroo species only discovered in 1995.

title: Lorentz National Park


text:
Lorestan

Lorestan is a province of western Iran.

Regions
Lorestan is divided into 10 administrative counties, and home to some 1.700.000 people. Outside of the main cities, as listed below, the province is dotted with hundreds of villages.

North and East Lorestan has a very cold snowy winter with pleasant summer. Central Lorestan includes the capital city of Khorram Abad with moderate weather during a year. The area is covered by Mediterranean Forests. South Lorestan has moderate winters with very hot summers. Pole Dokhtar and Kuhdasht are notable cities.

Another socio-economical division of Lorestan could be considered as following: Eastern Lorestan – mostly located on Silakhor Plain- which is more industrialized. Borujerd is the major centre. Western Lorestan, less developed area but a special centre of archaeology in Western Iran. Khorram Abad is the center.

Cities
Chief towns:

 * — provincial capital with a tall citadel called Falak-ol-Aflak (the Heaven of Heavens), a relic of the Sassanid era, now a museum
 * — many historical sites and monuments are located in and around the city

Other destinations
The towns of

The villages of

Understand
Lorestan is mostly populated by Lor people which are a pure Iranian ethnic - similar to Kords. The majority of people do farming.

Talk
The language is mostly Lori - an Iranian local language. Persian is used easily. English can not be used frequently with average people.

By plane
Khorram Abad Airport

By train
Dorud and Azna are connected to National Railway.

By bus
Frequent bus services to all cities. Borujerd and Khorram Abad have good connections to many Iranian cities by bus.

By car
Lorestan is located between Tehran and Khoozestan and is paved with good highways. From Tehran you can drive 4 hrs to get to Borujerd.

Get around
Mini buses and vans are the most common vehicles for travelling inside the province. Shuttle Taxis known as Savari are also available. Don’t trust and use personal unmarked cars.

See

 * Falakol Aflak Castle of Korram Abad
 * Jame Mosque of Borujerd
 * Gahar Lake of Dorood
 * Soltani Mosque of Borujerd
 * Kio Lake of Korram Abad
 * Bazaar of Borujerd
 * Gahar Lake Dorood
 * Oshtorankooh Mountain Azna
 * Ab sefid waterfall Aligoodarz
 * Chegan waterfall Aligoodarz
 * Shevi waterfall Dezful
 * Nozhiyan waterfall Dorood
 * Emamzade qasem Azna
 * Kamandan village Azna
 * Wark waterfall of Sepid Dasht
 * Bishe waterfall of Dorood
 * Great waterfall and Seven fountain of Sepid Dasht
 * Hashtad Pahloo (80 sides) Environmental Protected Area in Poll e Dokhtar

Itineraries

 * Stay 2 days in Borujerd and visit Jame and Soltani Mosques. Visit the old Bazaar and go to Chogha Hill. Spend a day with friends in Goldasht or Vennai and eat local kebab and yogurt drink. Preferably, stay in Zagros Hotel.
 * Take a minibus to Khorram Abad (2 hrs) and spend two days there. Many historical monuments are around the city among them Falakol Aflak Castle is the most exciting.
 * Join a tour – not very easy to find one – to stay overnight in Oshtorankuh and fish in Gahar Lakes.
 * Visit Ghali Kuh in Aligoodarz or see Pole Dokhtar.
 * Visit Oshtorankooh mountain, Kamandan village, Bidestane village, Emamzade qasem mosques in Azna.

Do

 * Fishing in Gahar Lake
 * Hiking in Chogha Hill or Kio Parkland
 * Climbing in many places – Lorestan is mostly covered by elevated mountains
 * Skiing in Borujerd in winters
 * Eating in Borujerd kebab restaurants

Eat
Borujerd has a good reputation for food. Kebab, local bread and ice cream are fantastic. Don't miss many halva and local sweets in Borujerd and other cities.

Drink
No alcohol is served in Iran. Soft drinks and bottled water are available easily. Doogh is a yoghurt drink that is very popular in Lorestan.

Stay safe

 * Avoid travelling alone in villages or among tribes.
 * Don't use unauthorised cars which work as taxis.
 * Call police at 110 in case of emergency.

Go next

 * Easily, take a bus ticket from a terminal anytime in any city and go back to Tehran.
 * Take a mini bus or shared taxi to Khorram Abad and get to your flight.
 * Go to Dorud and use a train to go to Tehran or Ahwaz.
 * Go to Borujerd to get a bus ticket to Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Ahwaz, Hamadan, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Qom and so on.
 * If you have your own car, go toward Borujerd and then Arak, Qom and Tehran.

title: Lorestan