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Yanji

Yanji (Chinese: 延吉 Yánjí, Korean: 연길 Yeon-gil) is a city in Jilin Province.

Understand
Koreans first migrated to the Yanji area after a series of famines struck in 1869. The area, called the Yanbian Chaoxianzu (Korean) Autonomous Prefecture, is the home of the largest group of ethnic Koreans living outside of Korea, and while there are a small number of expatriates from North and South Korea, most of the Koreans living here hold Chinese, not Korean citizenship. Since large areas of Yanbian were off-limits to travelers, the tourist facilities and people who speak English are kind of non-existent, but that is changing.

Unlike other Chinese cities, this little city is relatively clean and peaceful. You can find quite a lot of cafes that serve good coffee, and also you will see many tea houses (茶坐) around the city.

Talk
Unsurprisingly, due to its large Korean population, the Hamgyong dialect of Korean is widely spoken in Yanji. However, most ethnic Koreans in Yanji are bilingual in Mandarin and Korean, so Mandarin-speaking visitors should not have much of a problem. All official signs are also written in both Chinese characters and Korean hangul.

By train

 * Beijing - takes about 10 hours by high speed rail to Yanji West station and 25 hours by slow train to Yanji station
 * Changchun - takes about 3 hours by high speed rail and 10 hours by slow train

By bus
Dongbeiya Keyun Zhan Location: Chang Bai Lu, northeast of the train station

 * Chang Bai Shan - takes about 3-5 hours

Yanji Zhan Parking Lot

 * BeiHe - takes about 4 hours

Get around
Yanji is a small city by Chinese standards, but it's big enough for not wanting to walk long distances, especially during the middle of summer or winter. As of 2019, no shared bike systems exist, meaning visitors have to use either taxis or buses to get around.

By taxi
Taxis fares start at ¥5. Additionally to having your address written in Chinese, it's likely you could also present it in written Korean, as most people in Yanji (even ethnic Han Chinese) are fluent in it. Taxis are plentiful and waiting times should never be long.

By bus
As pretty much everywhere in China, buses are an efficient and very affordable way to traverse a city – if you can read Chinese, that is. In Yanji's case, all bus schedules and information are also written in Korean, as are announcements in the bus. Most lines have flat fares of ¥1, and some of ¥2 (for example going to 帽儿山; Mao'ershan). Note that depending on the line, service may stop as early as 18:00.

See
Yanji is not much of a sightseeing destination; there is no outstanding architecture (apart from a few Russian-style buildings which are relatively new), nor stunning scenery in the immediate surroundings of the city. Rather, it's a non-touristy place to wander, indulge, and get lost in – a melting pot of Korean and Chinese culture, unobtrusive yet busy to a certain point.

That being said, the city is not totally devoid of attractions.

In addition to the above, history/archaeology buffs can visit Longtou Mountain (龙头山; Lóngtóushān), which is a 40-minute drive from the city, near the village of Longmei (龙梅村). The mountain houses royal tombs of the ancient Balhae kingdom which existed between 698–926 AD.

Do
If you spend a couple of nights in this little city, you can check out a small amusement park right next to the bridge of Yanxi Street (延西街; Yanxijie). A dozen small rides, and lots of beer stalls.

Buy
Famous for pine mushroom. There are lots of shops in front of the train station.

Eat
Cold noodle; the characteristic food of Korean-Chinese, authentic taste is nowhere else to be found. Sweet, cold, a bit spicy at the same time. Price is ¥10-15. Look for the sign 冷面 (lěngmiàn) or 랭면 (raengmyeon). Some are around Renmin Road and Guangming St.

Also this city is famous for other Korean specialities, like BBQs (including Korean BBQ 韩式烧烤, yanbian chuan 延边串) and Shenjitang (参鸡汤. 삼계탕 samgyetang in Korean), herbs and ginseng chicken soup with boiled rice in it. Also, lots of 'dog meat (狗肉)' restaurants are in the city, too.

Drink
Under South Korean influence, you can find a number of decent cafes around the city and it's a lot more than other closer bigger cities. Few clubs are scattered in the city, mostly South Korean DJs are playing Korean pop.

Respect
Despite holding Chinese citizenship, the ethnic Koreans in Yanji generally share a common culture with their North and South Korean counterparts. Various points in the respect section of the South Korea article also apply when interacting with the Yanji Koreans.

Sleep
Like many other Chinese cities, foreigners are only allowed to stay in the places that meet 'the standard', even if there are plenty of cheap inns. It means you have to pay above ¥100 per person in high season (in low season, it would be around ¥80). If it says inn (Luguan, 旅馆), foreigners are not likely allowed to stay. If it says hotel or motel (宾馆, binguan) you might be able to stay there, but it's more expensive than those small inns (normal inns are ¥20~50 for a room) However there's one option below ¥100 for foreigners.

Connect
While there are plenty of internet cafes around, you will be required to have a Chinese ID in order to use them. A foreign passport will not suffice unless you get lucky. The easiest way to get access may therefore be to get a hotel room which provides it.

Go next
Yanji is the gateway for Changbaishan National Nature Reserve, about 5 hours southwest of town.

 * Jilin - takes about 4 hours - ¥70 for a train ticket.
 * Longjing - takes about 30 min - ¥5. Longjing is a small village where famous Korean poet Yun Dong-Ju lived. Occasional buses go from the north bus terminal on Aidan Road.

It is possible to visit North Korea, and in particular Rason on visa-free 1- to 4-day trips. Companies such as British run Koryo Tours or Young Pioneer Tours can help arrange these trips for as little as a few hundred euros.

title: Yanji


text:
Yankari Game Reserve

Yankari Game Reserve (formerly Yankari National Park) a large wildlife reserve in Nigeria, covering an area of about and is home to several natural warm water springs, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna. The park is home to the largest surviving elephants in Nigeria and has different animals from antelopes, lions, hyenas, leopards, crocodiles. It is in Bauchi State in North Central Nigeria.

Understand
Yankari was created as a game reserve in 1956, but later designated Nigeria’s biggest national park in 1991. In 2006 it lost its national park status.

Its location in the heartland of the West African savanna makes it a unique way for tourists to watch wildlife in its natural habitat.

It is the most popular destination for tourists in Nigeria and, as such, plays a crucial role in the development and promotion of tourism and ecotourism in Nigeria. It is also one of the most popular eco-destinations in West Africa.

History
It was the first game reserve to be opened to the public in 1956. It was turned into a national park in 1991, before losing that status in 2006. Yankari is a popular tourist destination in the country and it is rapidly growing in popularity.

Best time to visit
The best time to visit Yankari Game Reserve where you get to see the wide range of animals and have the full Yankari experience is during the dry season (between October and May)

Landscape
The reserve is found in the Sudan Savannah's southern region. It is made up of savannah grassland interspersed with well-developed patches of woodland. It is also a region of rolling hills, mostly between 200 and 400 m in elevation. Kariyo Hill, at, is the highest point. Yankari Game Reserve also has four warm water springs as a result of underground geothermal activity.

Flora and fauna
The park is an important refuge for over 50 species of mammal including African Bush Elephant, Olive Baboon, African Buffalo and Hippopotamus. There are also over 350 species of bird found in the Park.

Yankari is recognized as having one of the largest populations of elephants in West Africa, estimated at more than 300 in 2005. The growth of the elephant population has become a problem for surrounding villages at times as the animals enter local farms during the rainy season.

Climate
Bauchi state has a wet season and a dry season, and it is hot all year. Throughout the year, the temperature typically ranges from to, with temperatures rarely falling below 51°F or rising above 104°F.

By bus
The park is normally approached from the city of Bauchi, and it is about a five hour bus ride from there. In addition, several bus companies like God Is Good Motors (GIGM), ABC Transport,The Young Shall Grow offer daily services from almost all major cities around the country to Bauchi State. While buses usually are quite comfortable, journey times are very long.

When you arrive in Bauchi, A connecting vehicle will be needed to get into Yankari Game Reserve. It costs about ₦5,000 for a chartered vehicle to the reserve. The distance between Bauchi to Yankari is 110 km which is about an hour by road. The entrance gate is located in Mainamaji Village, 69 km from Bauchi, and from the reserve entrance, you drive 43 km to Wikki Camp.

By plane
There’s a direct flight from Lagos and Abuja to Bauchi State, from where you can get a bus to Yankari.

Fees
As of 2021:
 * Child or students: ₦800
 * Adult: ₦2000

Get around
Visitors and tourists to the nature park will get to view wildlife on foot. Guided tours and safari vehicles are also available. Private cars aren't allowed into the park. In addition, the rental car service of a Savana jeep (for touring) isn't offered at the park as of December 2021, but the service might be included in the near future.

See
Yankari Game Reserve has natural tourism sites and attractions such as:
 * Marshall caves
 * Dukkey wells
 * Anfara Iron Smelting Site
 * Anfara Iron Smelting Site

Do
As a tourist, there are a number of activities you can indulge in while at Yankari Game Reserve, such as:
 * Visiting the Museum
 * Having a warm swim in the Wikki Warm Spring
 * Sightseeing the beautiful natural landscape
 * Sports Game
 * Go to the Dukkey wells, Marshall Caves, and Anfara Iron smelting site

Buy
There is mini-supermarket within the park to enable tourists buy basic day-to-day toiletries and materials needed during their stay, markets and stores can also be found in the community around Yankari Game Reserve located in Bauchi state.

Unless you are in a supermarket or restaurant/bar with fixed prices, you will be expected to negotiate the price you pay for an item down to the lowest the vendor would sell. Hawkers usually camp at a spot selling anything from fresh food items like tomatoes, fishes, vegetables, potatoes to drinks. Expect any high-end clothing and accessories brand names (Gucci, Versace, Louis Vuitton, etc.) in these informal markets to be fake, and should you wish to purchase them aim for a very low price. Shopping at the local market is usually done with cash as they don't have POS machine for cashless transactions, supermarkets, restaurant/bar accepts cashless transaction such as POS and money transfer.

If you hold a Visa, MasterCard credit/debit card you can withdraw cash in Naira from various ATMs around Bauchi state. Most banks' ATMs accept both Visa and Mastercards.

Foreign currencies such as U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, or euros are best exchanged in Lagos before heading down to Bauchi state, but for safety, foreign currencies can also be exchanged at banks located in Bauchi state. In Lagos, there are various places for foreign currency exchange usually located near large hotels and the airport. These are not formal bureaux de change and you will need to negotiate the exchange rate. It is strongly recommended that you count your money in front of the exchanger, and don't be afraid to walk away if you are not happy with the deal. Be wary of your safety in money-changing areas, and take care to make sure you are not followed when leaving them.

There are formal bureaux de change in the various banks that can be found both in Lagos and Borno state, and you can rest assured about transacting with them, although their rates may be slightly higher or lower than the rates outside.

Local markets
Local markets in Bauchi state are; Livestock market, Alkaleri Market, Digare Market, Gaji Market, Muda Lawal Market, Rukuba market, Sabon Kasuwa Market, Wunti Market

Supermarkets
For a more cosmopolitan experience you can shop at various supermarket and stores:

Eat
The Reserve has a restaurant that caters to the diet needs of tourists. The Restaurants offer both local and international dishes. Tourists can either decide to eat at the indoor restaurant or eat in their rooms. Feeding varies from ₦1,000 per meal and more for a banquet.

Drink
The reserve also has a bar that caters to the drinks needs of tourists.

Sleep
There are accommodations made available within Yankari Game Reserve.

Stay safe
Beware of deals or businesses that sound too good to be true (especially e-mails soliciting your help), and do not openly flaunt your possessions, especially in public places.

While it is rare for a tourist to be a victim of a violent crime, it is still wise to stay safe and be alert, especially during late-night outings. Stick to crowded streets and make sure to go out in groups as against going out alone.

In addition, don't be scared when you are suddenly approached by someone begging you for money when touring the community, Bauchi state has its fair share of street beggars (both the old and young). If someone approaches Nigerians or tourists for money, you can decide if you want to slip a little change or not give anything at all, they are not entitled to your money, what most of them do is ignore the person or continue to walk at a brisk pace.

Large numbers of Fulani migrate to the region each year in search of grazing resources and frequently graze their cattle inside the reserve - displacing wildlife, be sure to keep save if this activity is taking place during your visit there.

There are police officers who are corrupt and inefficient so you should stick to places and people you know and avoid going anywhere without a trusted guide if it is the first visit.

Go next
Places you can visit when you leave the park
 * Gongola River
 * Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium
 * Unity Park
 * Emir's Palace
 * Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

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

title: Yankari Game Reserve


text:
Yantai

Yantai (烟台 Yāntái) is a port city on the Shandong coast that still retains some of its colonial charm. The city is fairly small but there is a bustling development zone and large container and shipbuilding ports. There are a number of western expats working here on the docks and teaching English.

Understand
Yantai is home to Yantai Raffles (烟台莱福士船厂) (Coordinates: 37°35′48″ N,121°23′39″E), which owns the largest shipbuilding crane in the world, towering over the eastern edge of the T shaped peninsula. Yantai is known for tasty fruit, especially cherries, apples, peaches and pears and is also the home of Changyu Wines, whose founder Zhang Bishi introduced viticulture and winemaking to China in 1892.

The seaside is home to a promenade for walking or relaxing. Among the seaside attractions is a great water, light and sound show: nightly at the promenade. It is definitely worth seeing.

Mandarin Chinese (普通话) is the lingua franca; the Yantai accent differs in tone distinction and is often described as gritty. Yantai is also the government seat for the surrounding areas and attracts many workers from those areas, each with a different flavor of Mandarin on a spectrum of intelligibility.

By train
Yantai is easily accessible from Jinan and Qingdao with frequent trains daily. But rail transport may be inconvenient if you travel long-distance, as there are no direct or fast trains. Sometimes you need to transit at Jinan.

By road
The Yantai-Weifang (272 km/169 mi), Yantai-Qingdao (276 km/172 mi) and Yantai-Weihai (86 km/53 mi) high quality superhighways have been put into service. Minibuses run between Yantai and nearby cities, such as Qingdao (3½ hours) and Weihai (1½ hours). The long-distance bus station is southwest of the railway station on Qingnian Lu.

By water
There are seven slow boat departures daily to Dalian at the ferry terminal. A third class bed costs ¥114-160 and the journey takes 8 hours. An alternative fast boat (four departures daily) which takes only 3½ hours at ¥170. There are also boats to Tianjin, but only in the summer. Several Korean ports can be reached by boat which takes approximately 16 hours, including Incheon (M W F 19:00, Tu Th Sa 10:30). Japan can be reached by boat which takes approximately 30 hours, Kobe (Tuesday, noon).

Public transportation - buses
All bus lines only cost one yuan (¥1) as of January 2019. Besides cash, you can also use AliPay or 'Citizen Card' (市民卡) to pay.

There are about 30 public bus lines in service. Bus Line No.10 and 17 are by far the most useful for travelers for sightseeing purposes. No. 10 goes from the railway station, then passes Nan Dajie and turns east down the coast. No. 17 goes from the railway station to the coast and all the way to the municipal government in newly developed Laishan District. No. 1 is also a good choice, as it crosses the centrepiece of Zhifu District.

Taxies
Taxi is a good means of going places with a flagfall fare of ¥8 (Although many taxis still have ¥7 posted). A 30-minute of taxi ride would probably cost you around ¥30. Hailing a taxi during mealtimes (around 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00) can be especially difficult due to a tradition of cultural breaks and siestas.

Do
Summer - Go to the beach during the day and go to the bar at night.

There are two major beaches in Yantai, the First Beach (第一海水浴场) and Second Beach (第二海水浴场), and another one called Golden Sand Beach in the Economic Development Zone (about 25 min from city centre).

Winter - There is a skiing place in the Tashan Park during winter.

Buy
If you are the shopping type, Three Stations (pronounced in Mandarin like: San Jang; taxi drivers all know it well) market has almost everything you can imagine, including Chinese cultural nicknacks, calligraphy sets, silk paintings, tea houses, and tea shops, sculpture and statue shops, as well as many computer outlet markets, clothing shops, furniture stores, and department stores.

French-owned Yantai-based Louis Wann makes wines and a good brandy.

Changyu Winery has also been around for over 70 years and their wines are pretty good.

Eat
One French restaurant, one Irish restaurant, one American-Diner style restaurant, a few Japanese and Korean restaurants and lots of Chinese seafood restaurants (well, what do you expect, it is the seaside!) Jusco in Laishan District has a number of Japanese, Korean and Chinese restaurants as well as McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut. Notable local specialties include sea cucumber soup (海参汤 Hǎishēn tāng), the "Yantai" variety of apple (烟台苹果 Yāntái píngguǒ), and sweet cherries (甜樱桃 Tián yīngtáo)

Drink
Chaoyang Street is known as the Bar Street among the expats is the place to be seen in Yantai! Although it has a slightly seedy reputation within the city, Chaoyang Street is most definitely the expats' first port of call when feeling homesick. Trendy locals and ex-pats mix along the street, and for many westerners its the only place where you can bump into other native English-speakers.

By phone
Consider getting yourself a local prepaid mobile phone number you are planning to stay in China longer than 3 days. Most mobile telecommunication providers have promotional rates for new SIM card number. ¥20 for ¥100 worth of talk time.

Internet
You can find some Internet cafes, just look for the word 网吧, and the price is generally fair. Note that only adults (in China, the age is 18) are permitted to enter Internet cafes.

Censorship
Just like anywhere else in mainland China, most western websites are blocked due to the Great Firewall (防火长城) in Yantai.

By mail

 * Zhifu Post Office: No.1 Huanhai Rd, Zhifu District
 * Laishan Post Office: In Laishan Airport, Laishan District
 * Fushan Post Office: No.173 Yong'an St, Fushan District
 * Mouping Post Office: No.610 Shizheng St, Mouping District
 * South Avenue Branch: No.8 Yudong Rd, Zhifu District
 * Jiefang Branch: No.3 Jiefang Rd, Zhifu District
 * Erma Branch: No.22 Erma Rd, Zhifu District
 * Shanxia Branch: No.28 Haian Rd, Zhifu District

Go next

 * Laiyang
 * Penglai
 * Weihai

title: Yantai


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Yaoundé

Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon, and the country's second most populous city. It is smaller than the economic centre (Douala), but still a bustling city. Called the city on seven hills, Yaoundé is home to people from all over Cameroon.

Understand
A city of 2 million inhabitants, Yaoundé is the centre of political power in the country. The city is in the Centre province, and stretches along the small river Mfoundi, which flows through the city from north to south. At about 700 m above sea level, it is surrounded by hills, swamplands and small streams, on the homeland of the Ewondo and Eton peoples, though nowadays it's home to people from all over the country. Downtown is rather small and comprises some highrises around Boulevard du 20 mai and the Quartier des ministères. The rest of the city is made up of a sprawl of small houses, including both businesses and homes. The main artery is the axe présidentielle leading from the presidential palace in Etoudi to the airport.

Yaoundé is well suited for travellers who are used to travelling in Africa. On the other hand if you don't have much experience with this part of the world, you may want to have a guide. Aside of hotels and restaurants, tourist infrastructure is rather sparse, though locals are in general friendly and helpful. Most people are Francophone, but many (especially younger people) also speak English (they may deny it, but their English is still normally better than many native English speakers' French).

History
In the 19th century, Cameroon was a German colony, and Yaoundé was founded as a base for the ivory trade by the explorer and officer Richard Kund in 1889, and a few years later a military garrison was established there. It was an important military foothold for the Germans until World War I when Yaoundé was invaded by Belgian troops. After the war, it became the capital of French Cameroon, and has been a seat of government ever since. The city now has a more civilian character: civilian institutions were established and Yaoundé started growing quickly. In 1939, the city had about 9,000 inhabitants, and when French and British Cameroon were united into an independent country, two decades later, the number had grown tenfold. As the national capital, it's home to national institutions, as well as the Bank of Central African States, and as such, a notable business travel destination. While Yaoundé is not exactly a tourist hotspot, it does have a few attractions and serves as a gateway to the rest of Cameroon.

Climate
Yaoundé features a tropical climate with steady temperatures throughout the year. But, mainly due to the altitude, temperatures are not quite as hot as you would expect for a city located near the equator, with daytime temperatures usually staying below +30°C. The dry season is from December to March, followed by a lengthy wet season for the rest of the year. Expect short and intense rain showers during the wet season, especially between July and September.

Orientation
Orientation can be a challenge as streets, except for a few ones downtown, don't have names. Also signage is generally lacking, and printed maps usually just cover the central parts of Yaoundé. However, Google Maps reportedly covers the city well. Locals use major traffic hubs, landmarks and names of neighbourhoods, or quartiers, for navigation and this is the best way for visitors too. When you're near the place you want to find, ask others for closer directions.

The city is administratively divided into seven districts and many more quartiers. In addition to the city centre, these are some of the most important for visitors:

 * Bastos: Upscale bedroom community in the northwest, where most embassies, consulates and foreign NGOs are located. Here you can also find the palace-like home of Bernard Fokou, one of the richest men in the country.
 * La Briquetterie: Also La Brique, is a centrally located Muslim quartier and has a dangerous reputation. It is known for barbecue food and tailor shops so it can still be worth a visit.
 * Camp SIC Hippodrome: An old residential community on a centrally located hill. This is also the banking centre and some ministries and restaurants are located here.
 * Etoudi: Located in the far north of Yaoundé, the presidential palace (Palais d'Etoudi) is here.
 * Mokolo: Busy industrial quartier east of the city centre. You can find the great market (Marché Mokolo) here.
 * Omnisports: Also known as Mfandena, it's an upscale quartier on a hill northeast of the city centre. The Ahmadou-Ahidjo football stadium is at the hill's highest point.

By plane

Alternately, one could get off in Douala and take one of the numerous bus or train services to reach Yaounde (a 3-4 hour ride). Domestic airlines regularly fly Douala-Yaoundé.

By train
Passenger services are operated by Camrail. There are several daily services from Douala, brand new Intercity trains takes 3 hr 45 min to complete the journey. An overnight train from Ngaoundéré with couchettes and sleeper cars runs daily. There are also much slower Omnibus trains several times per week, serving rural communities along the line. Yaoundé station, known as is located just north of the city centre.

Train travel is an experience in itself, like is often the case in developing countries. The trains travel quite slowly, hence you can see more of the landscapes. You get to meet fellow travellers and vendors boarding the train at stops. On the other hand, if you want to travel more comfortably and quicker, opt for bus or plane. The trains might not be air conditioned, are often delayed (one reason is that freight trains have priority and passenger trains often need to wait at stations) and train accidents are sadly all too common. Ticket scalpers and petty thieves are other things you need to be aware of.

By car
There are paved roads to Ebolowa, Ayos, Bafia, Bamenda, Bafoussam, Eseka and Edéa/Douala. The rest of the region is connected by tracks usable around the year.

By bus
The Douala-Yaoundé trunk road route is extremely congested, with a number of official and unofficial check points along the route and should be avoided at night when accidents are very common. Road traffic is in general unsafe compared to first-world countries. Bus traffic is unregulated and individual bus companies are often short-lived; ask locals at the station which company has the best safety reputation at the moment.

It's really worth getting the 'prestige' service if you're coming from Douala. If for no other reason than the seatbealts, it's worth the splurge (tickets cost about double compared to regular buses), but take a jumper in case they crank the air conditioning. These buses are better maintained and cleaner. Regular buses tend to be crammed, though it is possible to buy more than one seat for yourself. Overall, ticket prices depend on when you travel; travel before holidays and morning departures tend to be more expensive. Some bus companies charge extra for your luggage.

There are several bus stations in Yaoundé, and many have services from Douala. Tongolo serves traffic from the west and northwest of the country, Biyem Assi from Douala, the north and northwest, Mvan from Douala, south and east, Nsam from Douala and south, and Mimboman from the east.

By bus
Public city buses are operated by Stecy. As of July 2018 there's a total of 13 lines, most of which radiating out from the centre along the main streets. The company operates two lines to the airport as well, taking different routes but both going to the central post office. To see the network maps, go to Stecy's website and scroll down.

Bus trips are paid for using "Tap & Go" magnetic cards, just like in many public transport systems in the world. You can buy and reload the cards at newsstands and other points of sale. When boarding the bus, you pay for the ride by holding the card against the orange ticket machine next to the driver.

By taxi
Shared taxis, known by their yellow colour, are plentiful and the way to go. They will slow down for you, but you should flag anyway, to call your destination, and beep to say yes. There are no meters, fares are negotiated. The price is normally FCFA 250, unless you're travelling a long way, or if you're not going far, you can try calling "cent francs" and your destination. In some cases you may be asked how much you'll pay "paye combien?" just say 300 francs (in French...) and you'll probably be fine. You can also say "depot" if you want the taxi to yourself. This will cost you more, probably around FCFA 1000; negotiate before hand You can also rent by the hour, around FCFA 2500 or 3000 per hour. Negotiate before hand, and don't pay more than FCFA 3000.

If a taxi doesn't stop for you, it's probably because they are taking someone who has hired the whole taxi. Taxis are normally only four passengers, but some drivers will fit up to six (four in the back, two in the front). Trust your own judgement about getting into a taxi with sketchy looking passengers. The driver should have a license to operate hanging from the rear-view mirror, you could try and check that the photo matches.

Ride-hailing app Yango is available.

By moto taxi
Motos (motorbike taxis) also exist. At the outskirts of the city they are sometimes the only available form of public transport. They take one or two passengers and often drive carelessly, so you should try to avoid using them. Perhaps surprisingly, moto taxis are restricted operate only in their own district, so they are suitable just for short trips.

By foot
Watch your step when walking; hazards include potholes, missing manhole covers and mud puddles. Also, you will encounter street vendors who have their merchandise spread over the pavement.

By bike
With a hilly geography, no biking infrastructure, bad roads and little respect from cars, biking is in general dangerous in Yaoundé. It can nevertheless be a good way for exploring the city on Sundays, when there is less traffic.

By car
Given the lack of other transport modes, driving can be a practical way for getting around. As a foreigner, however, it may take time to adapt to the local driving culture. Locals consider small scratches, bumps and broken side mirrors a normal part of the traffic.

Major road crossings are usually roundabouts, though much unlike in e.g. Europe, cars entering have the right-of-way and the cars already in the roundabout must yield. In crossings controlled by traffic lights, turning right on red is not only allowed but mandated. However, be aware that local drivers routinely ignore traffic lights.

Car traffic typically flows at 40-50 km/h, and even if the road is empty you shouldn't drive faster than that because vehicles, people and animals can emerge from the side streets without prior warning. In the case of a traffic accident with injuries, leave money for the first aid (at least FCFA 10,000) and inform the police about the accident, for instance at the nearest roadblock. Roadblocks operated both by the police, gendarmerie, and Prévention Routière are a frequent sight in the city, and you need to show both your driver's licence and a range of car papers.

Traffic jams are common, even as there's a relatively small number of vehicles per population. Nevertheless, during the last years roads have been improved to alleviate traffic jams. The main arteries lead from the north (highway towards Mballa) to the south (highway towards Douala) and east (highways to Ayos and Mbalmayo). There's a ring road in the southeast from Mvan through Ekoumdoum, Awae, Nkomo until the highway towards Akonolinga in the Quartier Biteng, and it is being slowly expanded. When the president or VIPs travel to and from the airport, the main street can be closed for several hours (in the worst case). Asking for bribes is reportedly common here, and in the case that something is wrong with your documents, the car may get impounded and you're in for a long bureaucratic process and hefty fines for getting it back. Should this happen, it's a good idea to contact your embassy for help.

In the city centre you need to use the marked parking spaces, outside of it you can park wherever you like as long as you don't block the traffic. There are also guarded parking lots, which are a good idea for nighttime parking.

See
The city's not really set up for tourists, but some fun things to see are the Mvog Betsi Zoo (primates and lions, with a kid's playground), the Mokolo Market (very big and in-your-face), Mont Febe, or maybe the swimming pools of some of the hotels — see Buy and Do sections below.

The city centre houses government offices, some hotels, and the central market. The Bastos quartier, with most homes owned by Cameroonians, is home to foreign embassies and the expatriate European community (drawn mainly from the diplomatic corps). The presidential palace and compound is in the Etoudi neighborhood.

Boulevard du 20 mai, the main boulevard of the city stretching from northwest to southeast, is bustling with life. In the northwestern end you can see some of the biggest landmarks in Yaoundé including the Hilton Hotel, BEAC building and several government buildings. In the southeastern end, you can see the Central Post and the Telecommunications Building.

The markets (listed in Buy below) are in additions to places for shopping, also attractions in their own right.

Also found in Yaoundé are:

Invitations to local ceremonies
Locals are very hospitable and it's not rare that foreigners are invited to weddings, funérailles (celebrated between December and March to commemorate the dead) and similar events. These are usually amazing cultural experiences, giving a unique insight into the local culture, including food, music and dance.

Activities
Mont Fébé has a wonderful golf course. Access is through Bastos and Carrefour du Palais des Congrès.

There are several swimming pools in Yaoundé. The water is usually of bad quality, so to prevent infections you should use ear plugs or a tight swimming cap to prevent water from entering your ears. Hotel Mont Fébé, Hotel des Députés and Hilton, all listed in Sleep below, have swimming pools. Other swimming pools include:

Learn
The Pilot Centre, near the Finance Ministry, is a government run institution teaching French and English. There is also the American Language Centre in Bastos, if you want to learn American English.

Work
If you're volunteering with an NGO, make sure that you've verified its credibility with an independent source. A good way can be to look at the NGO's partner organisations; if it has any big ones (i.e. the UN), they will probably have checked it out. It is sad to see eager and well intentioned volunteers have their time and money wasted (and their benevolent zeal diminished!).

Work permits are bound to residence permits, cost FCFA 260,000 and are valid for two years. They can be applied for at the commisariat on avenue Kennedy, and you need to bring a birth certificate.

Money
ATMs are the cheapest way for getting money from abroad. If you need FCFA, there are a handful of ATMs at banks around the city, as well as one in the Hilton in the center of Yaounde. The ATM at the Hilton is the only one that accepts MasterCard. You should travel with another type of card if possible, Visa Electron is the one widest accepted. At the end and the beginning of the month, be prepared for long queues (up to 50 m).

At large banks near Hotel de Ville and Hilton you can exchange money. There are also many people on the street who will change money, e.g. at the airport, outside the Hilton, and at the Casino supermarket. Money changers on the street can be recognized by seeing them rub their thumb and middle finger together at you (not a rude gesture, just a sign). They will generally accept euros but some may also accept dollars. Know the conversion rate before you go in case you need to haggle, but the group of people who change money outside the Casino give a good rate without haggling (FCFA 650 per euro, vs. a FCFA 656 per euro official rate). The euro is by far the best hard currency to bring, with the US dollar as a distant second. Swiss francs can be exchanged at Marché Central, other currencies rarely anywhere.

Money transfer services like Western Union, MoneyGram, or Express Union International are another way for getting funds. Traveller's cheques on the other hand are hard to exchange, and you can expect exorbinant extra charges for that service.

If you're staying a longer time in the country, you may want to open a local bank account. The procedure takes one or two hours and you need to bring your residence permit or passport. Pick one of the bigger banks.

Markets
These are some of the bigger markets in the Yaoundé. In addition to these, small markets can be found all over the city.

Supermarkets
There are a number of supermarkets around. The most obvious in the centre is Casino (a large French supermarket chain) next to the Notre Dame cathedral in the center of town where you can buy typical European brand-name foods. You can also find "Niki" in many places (including the Mfoundi area near the centre). Dovv in Bastos is another option, and has many European brand-names (though at the cheaper end of the scale).

Eat
Yaoundé's restaurants mainly offer local and French cuisine. There are also some Chinese and North African restaurants. Toilets in restaurants are usually dirty, so if possible go to the toilet elsewhere, before or after you go to the restaurant.

Good markets for food shopping are Mfoudi and Mkolo, listed above. At markets food are always not sold by kilogrammes or litres. It may be a good idea to hire a porter who can also help out with your shopping and protect you from pickpockets. Packed food is available at supermarkets.

Bakeries are often the only places open on public holidays. A good (but not cheap for the sweet things) place is Le Moulin de France, just off the main drag near Casino in the centre.

Budget
Street stalls are everywhere, but a nice place to go is Nlongkak roundabout. Here there's a bit of a variety, and plenty of places to get a beer. A plate of beans should cost FCFA 200-500, an omelet around FCFA 500 (or 1000 if in a restaurant with chips), and a plate of spaghetti maybe FCFA 500. Prices may vary considerably depending on the honesty of your vendor.

Prices for street vendors shouldn't vary too much for many items. E.g. Three or four bananas or a grilled corn (maize) cob should be FCFA 100, anywhere in the city.

Mid-range

 * Some of the Chinese restaurants in Bastos have good mid-range options.

Drink
Yaoundé doesn't have a very lively nightlife, though there are still a couple of options. Concerts with African music often take place in night clubs — ask locals.

Sleep
There are hotels in all price classes in Yaoundé. Save for the hotels in the splurge category, don't expect western standards — matter of fact even warm water isn't available everywhere. Internet speeds are also far below what you might expect.

While laundry is available as an official service at upscale hotels, at lower range hotels ask the employees to wash your clothes for a small sum. Clothes that have been dried on a clothing line outdoors have to be ironed afterwards to kill sand flies that the clothes may have caught.

Hotel rates can almost always be negotiated, especially if you're staying several nights. Credit cards are not universally accepted, especially not at cheaper places of stay. Those that do usually only accept Visa (Hilton accepts a wider range of cards).

Mid-range
There are many hotels in Bastos for FCFA 20,000-30 000, but you can't expect too much.

Post
The public postal service Campost is cheap, but unreliable. Use a courier service if you're sending anything important.

Telecommunication
GSM, 3G and 4G networks are available. Local mobile operators are MTN, Orange Communications and Nextel, and local prepaid SIM-cards are widely available.

You can find Internet-cafés, known as "Cybère" or "Cyber", around the city. In addition to connected computers some, but not all, offer Wi-Fi.

Internet, both wired and wireless, is considerably slower than in first-world countries, and price per bandwidth is higher. Effective bandwidth is about 50 kbps for mobile Internet and 100 kbps for wired.

Stay safe

While there are many more dangerous places in Cameroon and Africa than Yaoundé, crime can still be an issue here. Basic precautions will reduce the risk of you becoming victim.

Taxi sharing can be risky, even for Cameroonians, and you may wind up with your cell phone and wallet stolen. It's better to take a friend or two, rather than riding alone, especially in nighttime. It is recommended to hire a private taxi recommended by your hotel or a friend.

Beware of pickpockets, they are rife. Be careful with your bags, wallet and such in the markets (particularly Marché Mokolo and Marché Central) and anywhere there are lots of people (including at nights when out drinking). Keep your hands near your pockets and be prepared to grab a person if you know they took your phone, wallet or purse. ATMs are another place where you need to watch your surroundings. Keep an eye on your belongings at stations.

Outright robberies — often at knife or machete point — are also a risk. Give the robbers what they demand, usually your money and phone, and they won't harm you. To reduce the risk of getting robbed don't show expensive looking objects (especially things that are or appear to be made of gold), and avoid badly lit streets after sunset. Place Ahmadou Ahidjo, at the southeastern end of Boulevard 20 Mai, is considered dangerous even in broad daylight.

Photographing sensitive areas is forbidden. This includes military places, and apparently embassies and ambassador residences. If in doubt, it might be best to not take that picture, rather than risk having a soldier or policeman delete all your pictures, or confiscate your camera.

Stay healthy
Tropical diseases spread by mosquitoes, in particular malaria, are prevalent here. Bot flies are another problem. They lay eggs on wet laundry, and when you wear the clothes, maggots will eat into your skin. Dried laundry should be thoroughly ironed before use.

Pests are not the only health issue. In addition, unhygienically handled food and water can lead to amoeba infections, cholera and hepatitis. Follow the advice in Travellers' diarrhea to reduce the risk for food-borne diseases. The locals are more accustomed to the local microorganisms than visitors, which means you can get problems also from food that locals are able to consume. Also, HIV is widespread.

Local doctors are used to coping with tropical diseases. Nevertheless, there are a big differences between health care institutions in Yaoundé — some are excellent while others are bad.

Big public hospitals
These clinics offer high quality equipment and well educated staff:

Laboratories
Most small and mid-sized clinics don't have their own laboratories, therefore it's useful to know the location of the ones below. If you suspect you have an illness, you can visit them without a remittance from a doctor.

Pharmacies

There's a dense network of pharmacies, some of which are open also on Sundays and nighttime. Ask locals where you can find the latter. Pharmacie Française stocks products that foreigners ask for and are difficult to find elsewhere, including sunscreen and some malaria prophylaxis.

You can usually purchase medicine without a prescription. You will of course do this at your own risk, but it can be useful in an emergency if you know what you're doing.

Water
Tap water is not drinkable for tourists. Bottled water is widely available, fairly cheap and what you should stick to as a foreign visitor. At the outskirts of the city there are some deep wells built by the Swiss organization, Martin Stiftung, and the water here is of a better quality than elsewhere.

The sewers were built in the 1970s and 1980s but due to a lack of maintenance, the sewage system is largely dysfunctional. Effluent is often fed directly into streams or into cesspools. Human waste can filter through soil into wells, so this is another reason to not drink tap water.

Respect
If you want to take a photo of somebody, ask them for permission first. They might want a small fee for this, but will otherwise generally be happy to be photographed. On the other hand, you will anger them if you just take a photo without asking first.

When getting around in public, proper clothing is important, so avoid shorts, flip-flops, sleeveless shirts or bathwear.

Punctuality is not as important as in many Western countries. Don't expect exact answers to questions about distances, durations and such. Also, while street names to some extent exist, locals don't use them and might not even be aware of them. Due to this, if you for instance take a taxi, you should ask to go to a landmark or traffic crossing instead of a particular street.

Embassies and High Commissions
Most of the embassies are in the Bastos area, though some (e.g. the French and UK) are not.

 * 🇩🇿 Algeria
 * Australia: see Canada, the nearest high commission is in Nigeria
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇹🇩 Chad
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * the Democratic Republic of the Congo
 * the Republic of the Congo
 * 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇬🇦 Gabon
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇱🇷 Liberia
 * 🇲🇦 Morocco
 * 🇳🇪 Niger
 * 🇳🇬 Nigeria
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
 * 🇸🇳 Senegal
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * UK
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Further away

 * Dja Faunal Reserve — a world heritage listed biosphere reserve, about 150 km southeast as the crow flies. Most likely you need a car to get there.
 * Douala — the largest city and economical centre of Cameroon, accessible by air, car, bus or train.

title: Yaoundé


text:
Yaowarat and Phahurat Tour

The Yaowarat and Phahurat Tour is a one day and night guided walking tour through Yaowarat and Phahurat, the home of Bangkok's Chinese and Indian communities.

Understand
Yaowarat and Phahurat certainly don't take first place on the Bangkok to-do list of most travellers. Most will recognise Bangkok as a city of must-see temples, palaces, bazaars, shopping malls and go-go bars. While most of those can be found here, what makes these neighbourhoods different is their lack of big attractions. There are no "must-sees", just a lot of sights you could see if you feel like it. But don't push it — the area is best experienced by watching and enjoying the general atmosphere. Just walk through the tiny alleys, browse through what the markets have to offer and eat what the locals eat.

Prepare
According to the World Meteorological Organization, Bangkok is the world's hottest city, so never underestimate the heat. In fact, you will quickly notice that the heat in Yaowarat and Phahurat is even worse than elsewhere in the city: no air-conditioned shopping centres to cool you down, just busy traffic-choked streets, elevated smog levels and endless tiny alleys that really start heating up in the early afternoon. Buy and drink enough fluids, but don't carry huge bottles of water in your backpack, as there are plenty of markets and convenience stores selling cooled beverages. As you will be walking most of the time, wear light and comfortable shoes and dress for the climate. Don't go overboard though: shorts and mini-skirts are not allowed in Buddhist temples and shrines.

Start out early if you can, as this tour will probably take the whole day. The route starts at Si Phraya Pier, proceeds to Yaowarat, then ventures through Phahurat and in the evening you will go back to Yaowarat to see its blazing neon lights at work. Do not trust maps — the map that perfectly shows every little alley of Yaowarat still has to be created. Be sure to print this article and the corresponding map, so you have a general overview of the area while walking. You will get lost — but as long as you have the map, you will somehow find your way back on track. You may want to print the Yaowarat and Phahurat district article for alternative listings.

Another piece of advice is that the route is not fixed. Skip any attraction that you find uninteresting, have no time for, or is too far off. As said before, there are no must-sees here, so you won't miss anything remarkably special.

Morning

First take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Si Phraya Pier (N3). While walking out through the small alley, you can see a canal boat used as fish tank to the left. When you see the main road, walk left to the shopping centre River City. In mornings and afternoons it might feel quite empty, but it's actually the best place in the city for expensive antiques and other cultural objects. Note that real antiques and any religious images will require export licences, the shops can arrange this for you (for a fee). Downstairs is a small art gallery, and it might also be a good idea to go visit the toilet at one of the upper floors.

When leaving River City, you might see the sign "Gateway to Chinatown" and a map of a guided tour through the area. That tour is different from the one shown here, though some places are visited in both tours. Move on and take a left into the small market on Soi Wanit 2. Here you can get some snacks from a cart and take a seat before the big hike. You can also get some water around here if you wish. From the market you can see the Holy Rosary Church, often called Kalawar Church by locals. It is a Catholic church built in 1897 in neo-Gothic style architecture. Seeing it from the front is complicated, as a school yard takes up all the space. When you leave the church, take a left and try to find the riverside Siam Commercial Bank Building, the first commercial bank set up by Thais. It was built in 1906 in Art Deco style, a style that was popular at that time. It is difficult to find though, but is easily seen from the Chao Phraya Express Boat service.

Take another left and continue the path. Then take a right into Trok Talat Noi, a small lane that brings you to the Noi Market, a local market with Chinese products. Most tourists don't know about this place, so it's a nice way to see how the locals live. You might even walk through some living rooms. Walk back to the main road and take a right. You'll be walking through the Sieng Kong Zone, a small area with larger-than-human-sized piles of oily car parts. Most locals here have a job in the car part industry and you will see plenty of Chinese workers getting their hands dirty. Walk further on Wanit 2 and you will stumble across Wat Pathum Khongkha, often called Wat Sampheng. It was built in the Ayutthaya period, and has been restored to its current state.

Now take a right onto Tri Mit Road, and head for the Chinese Arch at the Odeon Circle. Officially known as the King's Birthday Celebration Arch, it sets the stage for Chinatown. It is built by the Thai-Chinese community and was unveiled on December 5th, 1999 to show their loyalty to the Thai royal family. The big four Chinese characters on the monument mean 'Long Live The King' and are in the handwriting of Princess Sirindhorn (who is fluent in Chinese). When standing under it, it feels like a giant monument, but it's easier to take a picture of it by crossing the road. Now continue in the same direction and take a left for Wat Traimit. The golden-white building cannot be entered, but looks nice for photographs. The real feature of this temple is the Phra Sukhothai Traimit, the largest solid gold Buddha image in the world. In the end of the Ayutthaya period, the image was covered with plaster to hide its value from enemies invading Thailand. It was hidden for centuries until the image was being moved to a new vihara in 1954. The plaster was accidentally broken, revealing its inside being solid gold. It led to a gold-craze of Buddha images all over the country.

Walk back to the King's Celebration Arch and take a right into Yaowarat Road. At the left, you will see the Thien Fa Foundation, a local medical treatment centre which uses modern as well as traditional Chinese practices. Also interesting is the Kuan Yin Shrine, a Buddhist temple from the Mahayana school, which is quite different from the Theravada school practiced by Thais. Plenty of Chinese locals light a candle here to get a blessing.

Afternoon

Look at the neon sign chaos in front of you! Now it really starts to feel like Hong Kong. If only it was nighttime with all the neons shining... don't worry, that will come later. First it's time for a coffee break. Take a left into Soi Phadung Dao and another left into Phat Sai Road. Eiah Sae is one the area's traditional coffeeshops, a great place to observe the daily life of the locals. It has been passed on for generations and has a similar noisy atmosphere as it had almost one hundred years ago. Cappuccino and espresso are not on the menu, go for the Chaozhou coffee made from coffee beans roasted and blended following a secret family recipe. You can also have small snacks.

Continue the route by walking into Plaeng Nam Road. This road has an authentic atmosphere with some old Chinese shops. There's usually someone playing a traditional Chinese musical instrument at the shop selling these. Cross Charoen Krung Road into Phlap Phla Chai Road, and you will see the Li Thi Miew Temple with several shrines on the left. The roof shows two dragons playing with a pearl as is common in Chinese temples. In the compound next to the main temple building, you will encounter a large shrine dedicated to the goddess Guan Yin. You could walk straight into Trok Issaranuphap if you're in a hurry, but you might want to see Wat Kanikapon by walking just a little bit north. It can be difficult to find as there are plenty of other temples in the area (which are also very lively). It is mostly known for the fact that the madame who founded it used to own a brothel.

Then walk into Trok Issaranuphap, which is sometimes called Charoen Krung Soi 16. This part of Trok Issaranuphap is the most authentic part, as not a lot of travellers head this far north. It is known as Talat Mai or the New Market (which is still more than one hundred years old). Essentially, it is a packed dark alleyway with Chinese merchants selling a plethora of things, such as ginseng roots, fish heads, chocolate cookies and other foodstuffs. Don't run through here — just casually walk around and browse through what the merchants have to offer. Even if you're not buying anything, the busy atmosphere and exotic products make this a sensual experience.

It is a covered walkway with Chinese merchants selling a plethora of things. You're lucky if it starts raining — you'll see all the shop owners cover their products with plastic in a matter of seconds! When you get to Charoen Krung Road, take a right into it, and another quick right into Wat Mangkon Kamalawat. This is a very lively temple with many (Chinese) locals leaving offerings at the altars. Right after the second gateway is the most interesting part, with four statues of sages holding respectively a parasol, a pagoda, a snake's head and a mandolin, symbolic objects in Mahayana Buddhism.

The market along Trok Issaranuphap continues south of Charoen Krung Road. At the left is the Leng Buai Ia Shrine, the oldest Chinese shrine in Thailand. This claim is based on the plaque inside with a Chinese inscription that states that the shrine was built in 1658. That year corresponds to the Ayutthaya period, far before Bangkok became the capital of the country. It is housed in a traditionally Chinese architectural style-building. Inside there is a shrine dedicated to Leng Buai Ia and his wife in the centre, a shrine dedicated to the deity Going-Wu on the left and a shrine dedicated to the Queen of Heaven on the right.

When you're done eating, cross Yaowarat Road. In the morning, the Talat Kao or Old Market is running here, and old it is — it has been up and running since the late 18th century. But as it's probably afternoon already, the market changes its emphasis from a food market into a more mainstream one.

Continue south and take a right into Sampheng Lane, sometimes called Soi Wanit 1. This lane is the oldest part of Chinatown, and it used to be a shady place with gambling houses, opium dens and brothels. Now it is, what else, a market, mostly with tacky goods for teenagers. It's still good if you want to pick up cheap toys, ceramics, jewellery and accessories. So-called "department stores" fill the lane, though usually they are just a small collection of grouped stores (not more than two floors). At the crossing with Mangkon Road, you will stumble across Tang To Kang Gold Shop. This gold shop is 130 years old and houses a private museum about the art of gold smithing. Opposite the gold shop is the Bangkok Bank Building, which exterior is another example of classic early Rattanakosin-style with clear European influences. Just take some snapshots and continue the route. When you pass the crossing with Rachawongse Road, the market changes its emphasis to clothing and fabrics sold by Indian merchants.

If you're really a temple-nut, you could take a left into Maha Chak Road, and then take a right into a small alley for Wat Chakrawat (if not, just skip this section). The temple is not that memorable, but some visitors like to come here for its remarkable atmosphere. There is a crocodile swimming in the pond, monkeys and dogs are slogging around and birds keep tweeting from their cages. The locals do not seem to care one bit about the occasional traveller passing by, and just keep on playing their board games. When you're done exploring, walk back to Sampheng Lane and we're back on track.

If you just wanted to see Chinatown by day, or you're short on energy, you can walk south along Rachawongse Road to the river and take the Chao Phraya Express Boat home. It's better to keep on walking though, as there is still a lot left to do. When you reach the end of Sampheng Lane, the ethnic make-up slightly changes from Chinese to Indian. Take a left onto Chakphet Road and you will quickly find India Emporium at the other side of the road. It's a modern shopping centre with many stores selling fabrics and accessories. When looking in the sky, you might see the huge Guru Tawan Sikh Temple with the golden dome, the second-largest Sikh temple outside of India. It can be visited but you must take off your shoes and cover your head with a cloth.

For an authentic experience, try to find the Phahurat Market. Yes, try, as it can be quite a task to find it. It is in the backstreets south of Phahurat Road and you have to walk through some stores to get there. You know when you've found it though, as it is a labyrinth of narrow lanes filled with cheap fabrics sellers. It feels cramped, and you might bump into someone, but that's just part of the fun. Around the fabrics market are plenty of other small markets as well. Browsing is not as rewarding here as in Chinatown, unless you're interested in Bollywood movies or Punjab sweets.

If you got some time left you can walk north to the Old Siam Plaza, which is a European colonial-style shopping centre selling diverse products like branded and second-hand clothing, gadgets, electronics, handicrafts and gold futures (if interested). On the third floor is a 'clinic' for household electronics where you will see customers waiting with their non-functional appliances for same day repairs. There are also stores for replacement parts for electrical appliances, such as fan parts, resistors, rubber gaskets for blenders, etc. On the way out, you might want to buy some of the excellent traditional local sweets and desserts from the first floor. Surrounding the shopping centre are a dozen of gun shops.

Evening

As promised before, you should see Yaowarat's neon lights in action, as well as getting your stomach filled with some delicious Thai-Chinese delicacies. For this, head north from India Emporium on Chakphet Road and then head east into Yaowarat Road. What you saw before was only a sleeping giant. At night the atmosphere changes completely as gigantic neon signs are turned on and the plastic seats of the restaurants spill out onto the streets. You'll probably want to make some nightly pictures of the signs (if you have a good camera). Yaowarat at night is a vibrant place with restaurants, carts and markets that never seem to close.

Now you have to choose where you want to eat. Phadung Dao Road has the city's best selection of Chinese restaurants, many of which specialise in expensive delicacies like shark fin soup, bird's nest soup or fresh sea food (often still swimming in tanks near the entrance). T&K Seafood is hailed as the best barbecued seafood restaurant in Bangkok and masses of people generally stand out in front of the entrance waiting to be seated. It looks very cheap and basic by Western standards, but it has a great local atmosphere and delicious barbecued prawns make more than up for it. You can also take one of the air-conditioned seats upstairs as you're probably tired of today's long hike. If you're looking for shark fin soup or bird's nest soup, you might want to visit China Town Scala instead, which is more expensive.

If you're on a tighter budget, an alternative could be to go food cart hopping, a popular activity among Bangkok's residents. Food carts and street restaurants come in many varieties and flavours, and simple meals go for about 50 baht per dish. Many of them line the streets in and around Yaowarat Road, Plaeng Nam Road and Phadung Dao Road. If you're in a group, you are especially well off as most of the dishes are meant for sharing. You can't go wrong at Kuay Jab Nai Ek, one of the famous places to get kuay jab, a roll-like rice noodle with crispy pork belly, blood and intestines served in clear soup. Once you're done with one meal, just get up and go to the next place. The carts mostly specialise in Southern Chinese fare, including dim sum, Chaozhou-style steamed Chinese mullet and various noodle and rice dishes.

An obvious alternative to Chinese food is having some of Bangkok's Indian cooking in Phahurat. From India Emporium, cross the road and walk down the small alley with the Royal India Restaurant sign. This restaurant is your best bet for quality Indian food, as its curries have won many awards. Expect to pay around 250 baht for a meal. A downside is that other travellers seem to know about this place as well.

When you're done with eating, end the night in style with the live jazz sessions at Cotton Bar. The live band starts to perform at 21:00 giving the place a unique laid-back vibe. Treat yourself on a freshly made 007 Martini or Blue Hawaii and call it a night. If you still have energy to burn, flag a metered taxi down and head for Pak Khlong Talat, a short ride that doesn't cost more than 50 baht. It is a wholesale flower market open 24 hours a day, but best visited late at night. Flowers can be bought in all shapes, sizes and colours, and there is something for every budget. It's at its most lively around 03:00 when boats and lorries arrive with new flower batches from the surrounding provinces.

Stay safe
As Yaowarat and Phahurat are remarkably off the traditional tourist track, there is less to worry about than elsewhere in the city. The gem scam, 20 baht tuk-tuk rides and "lucky Buddha day" — it is the exception rather than the rule to encounter these common Bangkok annoyances in this area. The general rules apply here though, so avoid tuk-tuks, and insist on the meter when taking a taxi. Yaowarat is filled with gold and gem stores, but even here it's probably wiser to buy these products at home. And again, the extreme heat of Bangkok is not to be underestimated, so dress for the weather and always keep drinking. Another safety issue is the roads with heavy traffic: be very careful when crossing them, and use the footbridges where available — they are there for a reason.

title: Yaowarat and Phahurat Tour


text:
Yap

Yap is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Other destinations
Yap is comprised of the main island atoll of Yap with Maap and Gagil connected by road and Rumung, commonly referred to as "The Forbidden Island", is accessible by boat but still within the reef. Outside the reef, Yap extends towards Chuuk (formerly "Truuk") and has many outer islands and atolls; some of which are accessible by plane.

Understand
The island is famous for its stone money, which is rather large and cannot easily be moved. The island was opened for tourism in 1989 and has seen a good number of tourists visiting, especially for the scuba diving and to catch a glimpse of the traditional Micronesian island culture. Skin Diver Magazine has called Yap "the most interesting island in Micronesia" and gives Yap the honor of being one of the magazine's top 3 dive sites.

The state of Yap consists of 134 islands and atolls. 22 of these are populated, stretching across an excess of 100,000 square miles in total area. Yap's main island is made up of four high volcanic islands, accounting for 38 of Yap’s of land area. The main island of Yap is where the state capital and commercial center, Colonia, is located. Most of the outer islands stretching approximately 600 miles (1000 km) east of Yap Island are coral atolls. These atolls are sparsely populated by people different from the Yapese in both culture and language.

The US dollar is the official currency in Yap, and Micronesia.

Standard 110- volt and the same US type outlets are used on Yap.

Yap shares the same time zone (GMT + 10) as Sydney, Australia, and is one hour ahead of Tokyo, Japan.

Holidays

 * Yap Day - Observed in first week of March Annually.
 * FSM Constitution Day – May 10
 * UN Day – October 24
 * FSM Independence Day – November 3
 * Yap State Constitution Day – December 24

Talk
Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian and Satawalese are the island's official languages (all of which are indigenous), but English is also spoken by many of the locals and travelers will have no problem getting by knowing little if any of the indigenous languages.

Get in
Visas are not required for tourists staying 30 days or fewer. Travelers must have a valid passport and/or documentation of citizenship. All visitors to Yap must have an onward or return ticket. Entry authorization for stays greater than 30 days must be obtained in advance from Immigration and Labor, FSM National Government, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM 96941.

United Airlines offers flights to Yap a few times a week from Guam and Palau. Certain Palau flights continue on to Manila.

Get around
Taxis are plentiful in Colonia, and travelers are free to use the public bus system in Colonia to get around. These busses are often used to transport students and government workers and run between Colonia and the outer villages in early mornings and evenings, and cost roughly $1.

Rental cars are also available through a number of businesses within walking distance of hotels in Colonia. Prices range from about $38-60 per day.

While on Yap, visitors may charter boats to the outlying islands, which can be taken care of at a variety of places on the island.

See

 * On the island of Yap there are quite a few villages, as well as endless beaches and places to learn about the unique island life.
 * The outer reefs around Yap are full of other aquatic life, and they attract divers from all corners of the globe.

Do
Inquire about ship rides, private planes or for the more adventurous might consider looking into sailing on a tradition canoe.

 * Scuba dive, looking for Manta Rays.
 * Surf the islands legendary waves.
 * Take a cultural tour and check out the local island life.

Eat
Yap offers a variety of restaurants, with most found in the Colonia area. In Colonia, you can choose between O'Keefe's ($5 lunch specials include tea, rice, cabbage salad, soup and meat), Manta Ray Bar & Grill (aboard the converted Indonesian phinisi schooner SV Mnuw, behind the Manta Ray resort - great food at a reasonable price and if you eat on Wednesday or Friday night, you may catch a movie!), Ganir (more local style with a raised veranda style dining area), ESA (German cook with a variety of options priced very well) and Trader's Ridge (more great food and still reasonable). Outside of the Colonia area you will find other eating options scattered including a beach house with Japanese food. Be sure to inquire about getting a taste of the local food, which includes 3 types of crab, shrimp, lobster, tuna, wahoo, snapper and many other fish; and yes, Yapese do eat fruit bats.

Sleep
Travelers should just reserve the first night at the hotel. Look around in Colonia the next day if you would prefer to switch to another hotel. The walkabout takes around 30 minutes.

 * Home Stays - Home stays with a local family or in a room in a Yapese house, bungalows or men's house, in Colonia or other parts, villages and beaches of Yap and Ulithi Atolls are possible.
 * Home Stays - Home stays with a local family or in a room in a Yapese house, bungalows or men's house, in Colonia or other parts, villages and beaches of Yap and Ulithi Atolls are possible.
 * Home Stays - Home stays with a local family or in a room in a Yapese house, bungalows or men's house, in Colonia or other parts, villages and beaches of Yap and Ulithi Atolls are possible.
 * Home Stays - Home stays with a local family or in a room in a Yapese house, bungalows or men's house, in Colonia or other parts, villages and beaches of Yap and Ulithi Atolls are possible.

Stay safe
Yap practises a rigid caste system creating an additional element of control over would-be trouble makers. So, as long as you are culturally sensitive and respectful, you will be able to experience an entire cultural immersion. Do not wear shorts in public, except at beaches or swimming areas - showing the thighs is considered vulgar and immodest.

Go next
From Yap you can make the journey by boat or plane to Palau or to the other nearby islands of Micronesia.

title: Yap


text:
Yardley

Yardley is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. There are many things to do even though it is small and the attractions are a few car rides away. The area is friendly and safe with a lot of historical sites to visit. There is little congestion on the streets and is very quiet. It is known for a good school district and a reputation for welcoming visitors to the community.

Understand
Yardley was founded by William Yardley, who immigrated to America in July, 1682 with his family. He made an agreement with William Penn, before leaving England, to buy 500 acres for ten pounds. A survey was completed in October 1682, and the area William Yardley settled was called "Prospect Farm." It was just outside of the present Yardley Borough. William Yardley died in 1693, and his family in 1702-1703, possibly of smallpox.

A nephew, Thomas Yardley, came to America in 1704 to settle the estate and never returned to England. He opened a ferry line which started operating in 1710 from Letchworth Avenue, the lower boundary of the village, and landed in New Jersey further downstream. This was an important link between West Jersey and the three roads leading to Philadelphia by way of Falls, Langhorne and Newtown. The Yardley family occupied the land for more than 150 years.

When Yardley was founded there were already small settlements at nearby Burlington, Bristol, and Falls Ferry.

Yardley began to develop into a village about 1807, and by 1880 had a population of 820. Early industries included a spoke and handle factory, sawmill, felloe factory, plate and plaster mill, and two flour mills. The first post office, established in 1828, used the name "Yardleyville." The name became "Yardley" again at the time the Reading Railroad came through the area in 1876.

During the American Civil War, Yardley was a station for the Underground Railroad, an escape route for slaves. Known hiding places were under the eaves of the Continental Hotel (now the Continental Tavern), in bins of warehouses on the Delaware Canal (completed in 1862), and at the General Store (now Worthington Insurance). At Lakeside, the yellow house facing Lake Afton on N. Main St., one brick-walled cellar room is also thought to have been a hiding place.

Yardley Borough was incorporated on March 4, 1895.

The Train Collectors Association, which now boasts worldwide membership of 30,000 individuals, was founded in Yardley in 1954.

Get in
The two main ways to get into Yardley are by train (SEPTA) and car.

By train, the West Trenton Regional Rail through SEPTA.

By car, travel westbound on I-295 from Trenton, NJ and northbound on I-95 to I-295 from Philadelphia.

Get around
Cars are the most common mode of transportation in Yardley; however due to its relatively small size, walking and biking are also options.

See

 * September 11th Memorial - The newly constructed memorial is located off of Main Street in the Borough. This memorial includes a winding driveway leading up to a circular cement pathway which encases the five fountains in the middle. Names of the deceased from the area are engraved in a marble structure. Also featured in the memorial is a bathroom, pavilion and grills for picnics, and basketball courts.
 * September 11th Memorial - The newly constructed memorial is located off of Main Street in the Borough. This memorial includes a winding driveway leading up to a circular cement pathway which encases the five fountains in the middle. Names of the deceased from the area are engraved in a marble structure. Also featured in the memorial is a bathroom, pavilion and grills for picnics, and basketball courts.

Other attractions can be found in nearby New Hope and Doylestown.

Do

 * Lower Makefield Township park - By the free library and police station, the LMT park is a popular place for families in the area. The LMT community pool features four pools: a toddler pool with the water about ankle deep with a fountain in the middle, a kiddie pool, about 4 ft deep, the general pool that features a slide, two diving boards, and a high dive, and the racing pool which features buoys for races and practice. Also in the park is Kid's Kingdom, a community built wooden playground which rests on mulch for safe play. The park also includes two pavilions with 6 grills for picnics, two basketball courts, and four tennis courts, all under bright lights which can be turned on manually for safe recreation.
 * Yardley Community Day takes place in the LMT park and includes many different activities for residents during the month of September. Activities include a battle of the bands, face painting, mini-games for kids, and a fireworks show at night.
 * Harvest Day- During the fall season, the Yardley Borough closes down Main Street in order to hold this annual festival. Local vendors set up booths down the street and showcase a variety of goods including crafts and games. Free food is usually provided as well as live enterntainment.
 * Macclesfield Park- A huge sprawling field located off of River road, Macclesfield Park features four large soccer fields, three pavilions, and a sand volleyball court.
 * Yardley Country Club- The local golf club features a huge landscape which includes lakes and streams throughout the course. It is also a local sledding spot due to the large and steep hills that get icy during the winter.
 * Macclesfield Park- A huge sprawling field located off of River road, Macclesfield Park features four large soccer fields, three pavilions, and a sand volleyball court.
 * Yardley Country Club- The local golf club features a huge landscape which includes lakes and streams throughout the course. It is also a local sledding spot due to the large and steep hills that get icy during the winter.

Buy

 * McCaffrey's Super Market- The locally owned supermarket of the area offering reasonable prices in the strip mall on Oxford Valley Road. Once burned down, the new McCaffrey's has been restored and includes a downstairs and upstairs eat-in area as well as a Romper Room for kids to play while adults shop. McCaffrey's also features a Wine & Spirits Shoppe. Other shops in the strip mall include Rite Aid, Villa Rosa Pizza, Dry Cleaners, Charming Garden, Caribbean Tans, and a travel agency.
 * Giant Super Market- A grocery store chain in the same strip mall as McCaffrey's on Oxford Valley Road. Slightly lower prices but lacks the Romper Room and eat-in area.
 * Shoprite- A chain grocery store on Big Oak Road. Other shops in the strip mall include Hair Cuttery, Carlucci's Express, Carlucci's Grill, Baskin Robbins, Hallmark Gifts, Endurance Sports, PNC bank, Starbucks, and Kohl's.
 * Shoprite- A chain grocery store on Big Oak Road. Other shops in the strip mall include Hair Cuttery, Carlucci's Express, Carlucci's Grill, Baskin Robbins, Hallmark Gifts, Endurance Sports, PNC bank, Starbucks, and Kohl's.

Eat
The choices of where to eat are endless and most of the restaurants in Yardley are non-chain.

 * Yardley Ice House- A tradition for families in the area, The Yardley Ice House is off of Main Street in Yardley Borough. Both stock and seasonal flavors are all made in the store.
 * Yardley Ice House- A tradition for families in the area, The Yardley Ice House is off of Main Street in Yardley Borough. Both stock and seasonal flavors are all made in the store.
 * Yardley Ice House- A tradition for families in the area, The Yardley Ice House is off of Main Street in Yardley Borough. Both stock and seasonal flavors are all made in the store.
 * Yardley Ice House- A tradition for families in the area, The Yardley Ice House is off of Main Street in Yardley Borough. Both stock and seasonal flavors are all made in the store.
 * Yardley Ice House- A tradition for families in the area, The Yardley Ice House is off of Main Street in Yardley Borough. Both stock and seasonal flavors are all made in the store.
 * Yardley Ice House- A tradition for families in the area, The Yardley Ice House is off of Main Street in Yardley Borough. Both stock and seasonal flavors are all made in the store.

Go next

 * Newtown. A part of Bucks County and not far from Yardley. There are community attractions such as fairs and fundraisers, stores and shopping plazas,and fine dining.
 * Doylestown. There are unique shops and restaurants. It is like a small town and a very friendly environment.
 * New Hope. A very eclectic town and also where some motor cyclists go on weekends. It has very unique retail stores selling crafts, clothing, knick-knacks, jewelry, leather goods, art, and more. There are also fine dining and casual restaurants, bars, and theater. Off of Main Street you will find beautiful, winding, country roads and views of the Delaware River.
 * Langhorne, home of Sesame Place: a big theme park focused on children that has fun rides, games, waterslides, shows, and furry friends that everyone knows from the hit TV series Sesame Street. It is about 13 minutes away from the center of Yardley. The park is not opened year-round and is extremely busy during late spring to summer.

title: Yardley


text:
Yaremche

Yaremche (Ukrainian: Яремче) is a town in the Ukainian part of East Galicia. It is known as the Pearl of the Carpathians because of its beautiful locale.

By train
Direct connections with such cities are available: Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Ternopil, and others.

Tickets are available on Ukrzaliznytsia website and in mobile app (iOS, Android).

By bus
Buses from Ivano-Frankivsk operate daily.

Tickets are available on BlaBlaCar.

By car
H09 goes through the city.

See

 * Wooden Orthodox Church
 * Swinging Bridge

Do
The town is famous for its Spas.

Go next

 * Ivano-Frankivsk
 * Rakhiv

title: Yaremche


text:
Yarkand

Yarkand (莎车; Shāchē) is a city in Xinjiang Province in China. The name is sometimes transliterated as Yarkant or Yarkhand. It is most useful as a stop to break up the long bus ride from Kashgar to Hotan. The tomb complex here is worth checking out if you're in town.

Get in
Yarkand is on the Southern Silk Road and can by reached by bus from Kashgar or Khotan. It is 200 km from Kashgar. Usually it takes 3 hours drive.

 * Bus from Kashgar takes 4 hours.
 * Bus from Hotan takes 6 hours.
 * Daytime train now runs from Kashgar to Hotan and stops in Yarkand at least once daily.

Yarkand is connected to Leh in northern India via a pass across the Himalayas. Historically this was an important Silk Road link, and Marco Polo probably crossed it. Today it is not much used because the Indian and Chinese governments are not on good terms.

Buy
Yarkand has been known as a centre of carpet weaving for centuries, and its carpets were historically traded along the Silk Road, making it as far as Europe. Be sure to check out some of the locally-produced carpets when you are here.

Drink
There are two main options for an alcoholic drink. One is the 'time machine' KTV bar across from the New Century hotel where a small KTV room costs ¥288 with 4 drinks of your choice included, you can stay there till 03:00 for this price if you wish. The Armani bar is the other option, most taxi drivers will know it. It has a school disco vibe full of fairy lights and lasers and with heavy hip hop, American and Russian, on rotation and a mixed Han and Uighur clientele. A Snow or WuSu beer costs ¥10. It is highly advised not to get drunk and be on the street. If you are tipsy getting a taxi is safest even if you are staying nearby at New Century or ShaChe hotel. Taxi rides should be ¥5.

title: Yarkand


text:
Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon National Park

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon National Park (雅魯藏布大峽谷 Yǎlǔzàngbù Dàxiágǔ) in Tibet contains the world's largest canyon, 496.3 km long and up to 5382 meters deep.

Understand
The Yarlung Tsangpo river runs for 2,000 km across Tibet, then flows into India where it is known as the Bramhaputra.

Landscape
The national park is centered on the largest canyon on Earth, several hundred km long. There are mountains alongside the canyon, including 17 over 6,000 m (17,500 ft).

Flora and fauna
The area has a unique climate and is not heavily inhabited by humans. There is a great deal of wildlife, some of it unique to the region.

Get in
The nearest major city is Bayi, the capital of Nyingchi, which can be reached by train from Lhasa. There are quite a few commercial tours to the region, generally lasting about a week.


text:
Yarm

Yarm is a small town in North Yorkshire, England, which grew up at the tidal limit of the River Tees. Between 1974 and 1996 it was part of a new county, Cleveland, along with neighbouring Stockton-on-Tees. When that was abolished, Stockton was re-assigned to County Durham; but it still governs Yarm even though they're in separate counties. The winding river marks the boundary - just north of it (in County Durham) is the village of Egglescliffe, which has mutated into Eaglescliffe, also described here. They're both effectively suburbs of Stockton, and commuter-belt for Middlesbrough; in 2011 the population of Yarm was about 8400 and of Eaglescliffe was 10,500.

The world's first public railway, the Stockton & Darlington Railway, passed through Eaglescliffe with a spur to Yarm. It opened on 27 Sept 1825, hauled by Stephenson's steam locomotive No 1 "The Locomotion". After the grand opening, steam haulage was reserved for coal — much more lucrative — and passenger trains were horse-drawn until 1833.

By train
Transpennine Express trains run hourly from Manchester Airport, Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria via Huddersfield, Leeds, York, Thirsk and Northallerton to Yarm, continuing to Thornaby, Middlesbrough and Redcar. From London and the south, change at York.

By bus
Arriva Bus 7 runs every 20 min from Stockton-on-Tees via Eaglescliffe to Yarm, taking 25 min.

Arriva Bus X17 is a commuter service M-F, around 7AM from Eaglescliffe and Yarm to Thornaby and Middlesbrough, and returning around 5PM.

By plane
is five miles west of Yarm. It has flights from Amsterdam, Aberdeen, London City and Belfast City. See Darlington for more information.

Get around
The town is compact though you might have a mile to walk from the railway station.

See

 * Yarm High Street is a broad, part-cobbled thoroughfare with many preserved Georgian buildings; the dinky little Town Hall was built in 1710. Pity about the traffic: heavy vehicles are banned but it's still the busy A67.
 * See Northallerton for Mount Grace Priory.
 * See Northallerton for Mount Grace Priory.
 * See Northallerton for Mount Grace Priory.
 * See Northallerton for Mount Grace Priory.

Do

 * Princess Alexander Auditorium and Friarage Theatre are within Yarm School, Box Office +44 1642 792587.
 * There's a spa and leisure centre within the Parkmore Hotel, see Sleep. The minimum membership period is one month for £40.

Buy

 * The Farmers Market has moved to Preston Park from Yarm High Street, but it's still held on the second Sunday of each month.

Eat

 * Framboisette next to Eaglescliffe railway station is a licensed restaurant and pub with rooms.
 * Framboisette next to Eaglescliffe railway station is a licensed restaurant and pub with rooms.

Drink

 * Saints Row is a small brewery in Eaglescliffe. They don't offer tours.
 * Saints Row is a small brewery in Eaglescliffe. They don't offer tours.
 * Saints Row is a small brewery in Eaglescliffe. They don't offer tours.
 * Saints Row is a small brewery in Eaglescliffe. They don't offer tours.
 * Saints Row is a small brewery in Eaglescliffe. They don't offer tours.

Sleep

 * Yarm View Guesthouse at 82a High Street is actually self-catering.
 * Yarm View Guesthouse at 82a High Street is actually self-catering.

Connect
As of July 2020, Yarm has a good mobile and 4G signal from O2 and Vodafone, and a weak signal from EE and Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Go north to County Durham, and especially the charming city of Durham.
 * Explore Whitby and the rugged North Yorkshire coast beyond.
 * York has ancient city walls and many visitor attractions.

title: Yarm


text:
Yarmouth

There is more than one place called Yarmouth:

Canada

 * Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) - A town and county in the province of Nova Scotia.

United Kingdom

 * Yarmouth (England) - A town on the Isle of Wight in England.
 * Great Yarmouth - A town in Norfolk in England.

United States of America

 * Yarmouth (Iowa) - A small town in the state of Iowa.
 * Yarmouth (Massachusetts) - A town in Cape Cod in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Yarmouth (Maine) - A town in the state of Maine.

title: Yarmouth


text:
Yarmouth (England)

Yarmouth is an attractive little town at the western tip of the Isle of Wight, just offshore of the South East of England.

Everything in Yarmouth seems to be on a small scale; small narrow streets nestle against a small castle and harbour, and the ferry terminal is actually built against the castle walls.

Yarmouth is the chief town of 'West Wight', the western part of the Isle of Wight, and forms a very good base for exploring this part of the island.

By ferry
From a mainland location, the best approach is to use the Wightlink car and passenger ferry which runs every half-hour direct to Yarmouth. This ferry operates from Lymington (on the mainland) and has good rail and road connections (as described in the Lymington article). Taking a car on the ferry can be quite expensive; for short visits it may be better to park in the car park at Lymington Pier and board the ferry as a foot passenger.

By car
Yarmouth is connected to the rest of the Isle of Wight by Southern Vectis service 7. There is also an open top bus that runs from Yarmouth to Alum Bay and The Needles Battery, offering spectacular views.

Get around
The town of Yarmouth itself is easily walkable. For nearby areas of West Wight, the Island Explorer (services 7/7A/7B; see 'Get in' above) provides good service. Southern Vectis also operates the open top "Needles Breezer" throughout the summer, which serves Freshwater Bay, Alum Bay and the Needles on a hourly basis.

Do

title: Yarmouth (England)


text:
Yarmouth (Maine)

Yarmouth is a town of 9,000 people (2020) just north of Portland in Maine.

By car
Yarmouth is served by Interstate 295 and US Route 1.

By plane
Portland International Jetport in Portland.

title: Yarmouth (Maine)


text:
Yarmouth (Massachusetts)

Yarmouth is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Bass River, South Yarmouth, West Yarmouth and Yarmouthport. It is a popular summer tourist destination.

Get in
Yarmouth is 20 to 25 minutes from the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne via Route 6.

See

 * HSOY Nature Trails , – The entrance to the nature trails is right off of Route 6A east. Kelley Chapel is located on the trails.
 * HSOY Nature Trails , – The entrance to the nature trails is right off of Route 6A east. Kelley Chapel is located on the trails.
 * HSOY Nature Trails , – The entrance to the nature trails is right off of Route 6A east. Kelley Chapel is located on the trails.
 * HSOY Nature Trails , – The entrance to the nature trails is right off of Route 6A east. Kelley Chapel is located on the trails.
 * HSOY Nature Trails , – The entrance to the nature trails is right off of Route 6A east. Kelley Chapel is located on the trails.
 * HSOY Nature Trails , – The entrance to the nature trails is right off of Route 6A east. Kelley Chapel is located on the trails.

Beaches & Ponds, " *(Most beaches require Town of Yarmouth Beach Pass from June to Labor Day. After Labor Day Parking is free but there are also no life guards on duty.)
 * Seagull Beach, Seagull Beach Road (Route 28 to South Sea Lane), Yarmouth's largest and easiest to get to beaches on Nantucket Sound. It is divided into 2 sections Seagull Beach and Seagull Beach Extension. $15 (or town permit)
 * Parkers River Beach, South Shore Drive (Route 28 to Seaview Avenue), Small beach with a gazebo overlooking Nantucket Sound and swing set. $15 (or town permit)
 * Seaview Beach, South Shore Drive (Route 28 to Seaview Avenue) Small beach overlooking Nantucket Sound. $15 (or town permit)
 * Bass River Beach, South Shore Drive (Route 28 to Seaview Avenue) There is a boat ramp and a fishing pier at Veterans Memorial Park. $15 (or town permit)
 * South Middle Beach, South Shore Drive (Route 28 to Seaview Avenue) Residents only beach. $Town Permit only
 * Gray's Beach a.k.a Bass Hole Beach, Homers Dock Road (Route 6A to Centre Street) Small beach overlooking Barnstable Harbor & Sandy Neck. Also home of the Bass Hole Boardwalk. $15 (or town permit)
 * Windmill Beach, River Street (Route 28 to Old Main Street) Home of the Judah Baker Windmill $Free (Limited parking, no life guards)
 * Colonial Acres Beach: Standish Way, off Route 28. $Free (Limited parking, no life guards)
 * Englewood Beach, Berry Avenue, off Route 28 $Free (Limited parking, no life guards)
 * Dennis Pond, Summer Street off of Route 6A (Limited permit parking, limited street parking permitted (see posted signs), Quiet pond overlooking Willow street. $Town permit for parking lot
 * Big Sandy Pond (a.k.a as simply Sandy Pond Park) Buck Island Road. Not to be confused with Little Sandy Pond which is further down Buck Island Road but has no access. Big Sandy Pond has playing fields and parking.
 * Long Pond, Indian Memorial Drive (Route 28 to North Main Street to Station Avenue) Quiet pond with a playground.
 * Flax Pond, North Main Street, off Route 28. Only open on to the public on weekends and after 3:30 PM on weekdays from July 1 to August 31. (During the summer closed for children's summer camp before 3:30 PM on weekdays.)

Golf

 * Kings Way Golf Club, 64 King's Circuit, Yarmouth Port, +1 508-362-8870. 18 holes, par 59. 4000 yards.
 * Kings Way Golf Club, 64 King's Circuit, Yarmouth Port, +1 508-362-8870. 18 holes, par 59. 4000 yards.
 * Kings Way Golf Club, 64 King's Circuit, Yarmouth Port, +1 508-362-8870. 18 holes, par 59. 4000 yards.

Eat

 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.
 * Oliver's Eating and Drinking, Route 6A, +1 508 362-7749.

Go next
Explore the rest of Cape Cod, or go to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.

title: Yarmouth (Massachusetts)


text:
Yarmouth and Digby

Yarmouth and Digby are the two western-most counties of Nova Scotia. Traditional Anglo-Scottish and Acadian French culture intermingles amongst the villages, harbours, beaches and lighthouses, a remnant of the colonial past. Away from the shore, there are significant inland wilderness areas, including over 365 lakes and several major rivers.

Cities

 * — home to a fleet of sea scallop trawlers, and to dive bars and waterfront patio restaurants serving the famous Doggy scallops
 * — a popular location for sport fishing due to its many rivers and lakes
 * — an excellent place to explore Acadian history and culture
 * — known for the Cape Frochu Lighthouse, and traditional Anglo-Scottish and Acadian French culture

Other destinations

 * — the westernmost part of Nova Scotia and the southern end of the North Mountain ridge with Long Island lying immediately northeast, an important stopover point for migrating sea birds
 * — a 120,000-ha pristine wilderness area that can be accessed from East Kemptville. A semi-barren landscape, surrounded by more productive woodlands. Expansive wetlands, long stillwaters, fast flowing river and more than 100 lakes provide diverse aquatic habitats.
 * Discover Acadie — explore the vibrant culture and captivating history of French-speaking Nova Scotians

Understand
Yarmouth and Digby, located at the western end of Nova Scotia, offers travellers a variety of coastal and backwoods experiences, and a chance to experience Nova Scotia Acadian culture.

As a fishing region, the seafood is excellent, especially the scallops from Digby.

By car
Yarmouth to Halifax Yarmouth to Halifax Scenic drive from Shelburne (Nova Scotia) through Kemptville to Carleton, near Yarmouth
 * Highway 101 - South Shore
 * Highway 103 - North Shore
 * Highway 203 - South Shore Inland
 * Many other scenic routes including old Hwy 1 and old Hwy 3.

By ferry
Beginning in May, 2022, Bay Ferries will operate daily from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Bay Ferries also runs service to Digby from Saint John, New Brunswick.

By plane
The nearest major airport is Halifax International Airport.

Yarmouth International Airport serves only private planes.

Get around
There's just no public transit here. Bring a car, or hitchhike. (Hitchhiking is not truly safe anywhere. If you hitchhike, take precautions.)

See

The Tobeatic Wilderness & Southern Nova Scotia Biosphere is the largest protected area in the Maritime provinces. It protects the headwaters of nine rivers that flow to the Atlantic and Fundy coasts. It is among the most significant and undisturbed places for wildlife, biodiversity conservation, and wilderness recreation in Nova Scotia.

The Balancing Column on Long Island is a column of basalt 6.1 m high by 1.2 m wide balancing on its end over the Bay of Fundy. It us 46 km S on Rte 217 down the Right Neck to East Ferry, take the ferry across the Petit Passage ($7/car return, every hour at :30) to Tiverton on Long Island, drive another 4 km on 217 to the Balancing Rock Trail. Then it's a 1.7-km hike on a well-maintained trail.

The Nova Scotia Historic Acadian Village in Pubnico sits on a 17-acre site that overlooks the Pubnico Harbour. You can step back in time to discover the life and culture of the Acadians in the early 1900s. (Summer only.)

Cape Forchu Lightstation is a historic lighthouse on a dramatic, bold coastline. Drive to Cape Forchu easily from downtown Yarmouth, passing the numerous fishing shanties and lobster pounds along the way.

Do
Scallop Days Festival in Digby is held on 3 days in the first week of August. There are scallop-shucking contests, a parade, and an exhibition of local artists.

If you'd rather get your seafood straight from bay, take a fishing excursion from Port Maitland.

Go to one of the region's many beaches:
 * Bartlett's Beach in Port Maitland
 * Mavilette Beach in Mavilette
 * Port Maitland Beach & Provincial Park in Port Maitland

title: Yarmouth and Digby