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Bakkhali

Bakkhali is a seaside resort in the 24 Parganas region of West Bengal, India.

Understand
Bakkhali is on one of the many deltaic islands spread across Southeast Bengal and has a popular sea beach. Most of the islands are part of the Sundarbans, barring a few at the fringes. Some of these are joined together with bridges over narrow creeks. This small island juts out into the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal.

There is an -long beach stretching from Bakkhali to Fraserganj with gently rolling waves. These are twin towns now forming one continuous locality. Except on an occasional holiday, the beach is not crowded. A small stretch near Bakkhali has been lit up. It is a hard beach suitable for cycling or even driving. One can take long walks with coconut water.

By plane
The nearest airport is at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. Bakkhali is around 147 km or a 4½-hour car ride from the airport.

By train

From Namkhana station, you will get a rickshaw to reach the bus stand from where one can get buses for Bakkhali which take around 35 min. and the fare is ₹16.50. You can also hire private cars from the Namkhana bus stand/railway station, the fare will be ₹350 to ₹500 depending on your bargaining skills. The Bakkhali bus stand is very close to most of the hotels and a 5- to 7-min walk from the beach.

By bus
West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) has regular bus service from Esplanade to Bakkhali. One starts at 7AM in the morning from Esplanade and reaches Bakkhali at around 11:30AM and leaves from Bakkhali after half an hour for Kolkata (Esplanade). Another starts at 8AM from Esplanade to reach bakkhali at 12:30PM and starts from Bakkhali after half an hour forty five minutes. So the bottom-line is that there are two round trips from Kolkata to Bakkhali provided by WBTC. This schedule is subject to change and one must confirm it from Esplanade Bus Terminus before venturing out from Kolkata. The route of the bus is Esplanade- Alipore-Chiriakhana-Taratala-Diamond Harbour-Kakdwip-Namkahana-Bakkhali, the fare is ₹70.

At Namkhana, the bus has to be transported across the Hatania-Doania creek in a special ferry. It is expected that the Namkhana Bridge will be open to big vehicles, once the complete work is done. The ferry service is available from 7AM-11PM except from noon till 1:45PM (lunch hour). There are plenty of local buses up to Namkhana and then again from Namkhana to Bakkhali.

By car
Bakkhali is 122 km by road from central Kolkata. The road runs through Diamond Harbour and Kakdwip to Namkhana. A bridge over Hatania-Doania river at Namkhana is open to small vehicles (cars), making it possible to travel directly to Bakkhali without having to wait for ferry. The 130-km stretch from Kona expressway (with links to the Mumbai and Delhi sections of the golden quadrangle project linking the four metropolises of India) and Bakkhali has been marked as National Highway (NH) 117.

The road journey from the fringe of Kolkata to Bakkhali takes about 3 hours. However, crowded market places and occasional stretches of bad road can delay movement. Some sections are very crowded, especially in the early morning because of the bazaar, and later at the evening time, there is no bypass for these smaller towns.

Get around
There are many electric rickshaws, locally known as Totos and indigenous mechanised cycle vans, available in Bakkhali which serves the purpose of sightseeing perfectly. In case, you prefer a hired car, it is suggested that you contact and inform your hotel in advance, as availability might be less in peak season. Most Bakkhali hotels have chargeable dormitories for drivers to stay.

The ride in the crude bhut-bhuti, a motorised country boat, from Fraserganj fishing harbour to Jambudwip, a small, uninhabited and forested island out in the sea, can be a thrilling experience. The two-hour ride (both ways) costs ₹250-300 per head. The country boats can also be hired for other rides. The weak-hearted are advised not to take the rides.

For all the spots a rickshaw van will charge you at max ₹60 per head and it will take around 5 hr to visit all the spots and stay for 1 to 2 hr in Jambudwip.

See
The walk over the beach from Bakkhali to Fraserganj is a pleasant experience. The electric rickshaws, locally known as Totos and indigenous mechanised cycle vans, are the popular transport available locally.

 * Bakkhali Beach: Enjoy the sea at the beach. However, the water is little muddy and the sea drifts away by a few kms during low tide.

 * Fraserganj Beach: See the house of Andrew Fraser, a lieutenant-governor of Bengal, the beach and the windmills on/on the way to the beach
 * Benfish Harbour: Visit the Benfish harbour and Fraserganj Beach on the way to Henry's Island.
 * Jammu Deep: You can pay a visit to a small island, Jammu Deep, amidst the sea where you have to travel via boat in high waves from the Benfish Harbour, the boat ride is just thrilling.on arrival you will be delighted to see the beach full with Red Crabs its really a nice view.
 * Crocodile Park: You can also visit the Crocodile Park and Mangrove forest just beside the Bakkhali Bus Stop. The entry fee is ₹10.
 * Bishhalakshmi Temple: A temple called Bishhalakshmi is at the end of the Bakkhali main beach and is worth seeing. The pandit ji is quite different there as he won't allow you in the temple. He has his own rules.

Do

 * Most of the time would be spent in enjoying on the beach but some people look out for opportunities to do other things also.
 * Get a massage at Bakhhali Beach (full body ₹45, head and shoulder ₹10).
 * Take a boat ride to Jammu Deep

Buy
Credit cards are not accepted anywhere. There are a couple of ATMs, including one at Axis Bank at Bakkhali Bus Stand, but it is recommended to carry cash as the ATM tends to dry up quickly.

Eat

 * Frazargunj Indian Hotel beside Hotel Deepak. You will get many varieties with wonderful taste and reasonable price. If you buy sea fish and crab from outside and ask them to prepare it for you, they will do that happily for a small fee. These young men are very cooperative.
 * New Hotel Parijat in between the local bus-stand and WBTDC Lodge provides the best food here at moderate prices. You will find all sorts of fishes like pomfret, hilsa, prawn and the standard rui and katla too. A normal rui thali with other recipes costs ₹35. Chicken meal ₹80, prawns ₹100. No breakfast available here. Extremely courteous staff.
 * You can also try the various road side shacks for lunch and dinner. They come a little cheaper but the food can be sumptuous and tasty. However, because Bakkhali doesn't have a steady flow of tourists, most restaurants don't have a steady menu for lunch or dinner. You have to place an order for lunch/dinner a few hours in advance.
 * Henry Island can be a paradise for non-vegetarians, but you are left with little or no option for vegetarians, which can become a major problem at times.
 * Most hotels have their own restaurants and some have bars.

Sleep
There are many hotels at both Bakkhali and Fraserganj and new ones are steadily coming up. The bus from Namkhana passes over Fraserganj before reaching Bakkhali. Henry Island is located closer to Fraserganj. None of the hotels have a direct view of the sea (the casuarina forest or jhau bon can be visible at maximum). The WBTDC Tourist Complex is nearest to the sea.

Connect
Mobile phone coverage at Bakkhali is good, covers full range up to Jambudwip. However, 4G connectivity can be patchy on most networks. It is best to check with the hotel you intend to stay at to determine which of the mobile phone service providers have good Internet connectivity in the town and whether STD/ISD calls can be made from the hotel.

Go next

 * Sagar Island - Gangasagar
 * Sundarbans National Park – gateway for the West Bengal part of Sundarbans is through Canning and Basanti. The Sundarbans are also accessible from Bakkhali but best accessed through Basanti. If you reach Netadhopan, you may be able to spot tigers.

title: Bakkhali


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Bako National Park

Bako National Park is in Sarawak, Malaysia, and is known for its beautiful hiking trails and wildlife, including the bizarre, obscene-nosed proboscis monkey. Easily reached from Kuching, it is one of the top attractions in all of Sarawak.

Understand
Bako offers outstanding diversity of natural landscapes in a relatively small area. Its beautifully dense rainforests and stunning beaches are home to many flora and fauna including the rare proboscis monkey. Try and spot them during low tide as they forage in the exposed Mangrove tree swamps. There are 16 color-coded jungle trails as well as lodges for overnight stays - which you have to book early. On the high ground, look out for pitcher plants. And beware of the monkeys, they are very clever and compulsive thieves! (Don't forget to spot the boar!)

History
Bako is the oldest national park in Sarawak, established in 1957.

Landscape
Bako consists of coastal cliffs and rolling hills, and boasts fine sandy beaches surrounded by jungle. Coastal erosion has produced interesting sea stacks and rock formations.

Flora and fauna
In particular, Bako is famous as a home to around 150 of the highly endangered proboscis monkeys. Macaques are more fearless as well as more common, and thus much easier to spot. Another distinctive mammal indigenous to Borneo is the bearded boar. The common monitor lizard, growing up to 2 m long, is the largest of the park's many types of lizard; flying lizards may also sometimes be spotted.

Wildlife is most active just before dusk, so an overnight stay is needed to fully appreciate it.

Bako contains almost every type of vegetation to be found in Sarawak, including highly distinctive carnivourous plants. There are seven distinct types of ecosystem: beach vegetation, cliff vegetation, heath forest (kerangas), mangrove forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, grasslands vegetation (padang) and peat swamp forest

Climate
Bako enjoys sunny weather much of the year. Temperature is constant throughout the year, in the lowland range from a cool 23°C in the evening and early morning to 33°C under the shade during the day. But from late November to late January, the monsoon rain may spoil plans for an outing. The hottest months are usually from June to late August, when the tribal farmers do their slash-and-burn land clearing before planting their padi, this has been blamed for the haze that envelops the regions and may cause health hazards. But since the governments of both Malaysia and Indonesia have banned open burning, incidents of haze have been reduced somewhat.

Get in
The journey to Bako has two stages; the first stage can be made overland but the park itself is reached only by boat.

The other travel option is by minivan, which departs from the same location as the bus throughout the day. Minivans depart when full, or when the waiting passengers offer the driver enough money. A minivan can be chartered for around RM30, and seats 5-7 people. They can reach Bako in half the time of the public bus. The minivan driver may try to mislead you, claiming that the last bus to Kuching will not show up. In such a case, politely ask him to wait until 5:30PM and see. Hotels and tour operators also offer regular shuttle buses; as a pricier but more reliable alternative. Grab-Car can be used also.

When you arrive at the Bako Market right in front of the jetty/visitor center, a registration is required. This can also be done more quickly online at: selfregister.sarawakforestry.com. Purchase your entrance ticket (RM20), and buy your boat ticket (as of August 2022: RM40 per person, one way, minimum 5 passengers per boat). Please be advised that the official rate asked at the counter for a party of 2 people was 200 MYR one way. This price is significantly higher than other similar boat tours. But since there are no alternatives, you have no other choice. So if you are alone, be ready to spend a lot of money on transport. Understand that there is no fixed single-person rate or schedule. The return schedule that day was set at 3PM, three hours short from the 6PM mentioned on some sites. The national park schedule and the fishermen's availability are not identical, but you will need a boat to cross. The 20-minute ride on small motor launches is all part of the Bako experience as you pass through stunning scenery, but it isn't for the faint-hearted (sit further back if you don't enjoy a bumpy ride). Depending on tides, you may either be deposited at a small jetty on the northern end of the headquarters beach or on the beach opposite them (take your shoes off and prepare to wade).

Tell your boatman when you plan to return (or take his phone number to call him) and he'll wait for you at the dock. Note that the boatmen are a small, close-knit community and so other boatmen are likely to refuse to take your group if you are waiting for an agreed pickup, even if he is late.

Departure times might depend on the tides (boats do get stuck at low tide), and the weather, as the small speedboats are ill-suited to stormy conditions.

Fees and permits
Foreign Adult (single entry): RM20

Foreign Child/Senior (single entry): RM7

Get around
The interior of the park can only be traversed on foot. Staying on or close to the marked trails is strongly advised. Boardwalks and ladders are installed to help with some of the more difficult stretches.

The tour can also be done with a guide for 150 RM. Some guides have a very good eye for the animals along the way, which you might not be able to find himself.

Small boats similar to those that take you to and from the park wait on the beaches at busy times of day and can be chartered to take you to other beachside destinations. A boat pick-up can also be arranged to help ease the return journey from some of the park's longer trails that finish on beaches. Pulau Lakei, some distance offshore, can only be reached by boat.

See
A wide range of animal, bird and plant life including the Proboscis monkeys which come to the mangrove swamp to feed early evening. It's close to the lodging area where covered sheds are built, go there around 4PM, take a book and wait till they come. Seeing Proboscis and other species here is a lot easier and more comfortable than going on a safari. You just walk along an elevated wooden pathway, about 10 minutes from where the boats land.

You can also see the sea stacks by arranging a boat to pick you up (RM35 as of Sept 2018) and take you there from nearby Telok Pandan Kecil beach. Do this at the park headquarters before heading out on the Telok Pandan Kecil trek.

Do
Walks radiate from the centre offering a variety of difficulties in the heat and humidity and provide access to the habitats of the wide range of animal, bird and plant life in the park. The hikes are over some pretty rugged terrain for the most part, with lots of exposed tree roots and vegetation sometimes blocking trails that are less frequented.
 * Bako National Park, Sarawak (43430547674).jpg
 * Bako National Park, Sarawak (43430547674).jpg
 * Bako National Park, Sarawak (43430547674).jpg

With a little negotiation, a boatman will take you to nearby Pulau Lakai, a small island just off the mainland. The views on the way here are spectacular and it's special to have an island to yourself for a day. There is a ranger-guided night walk that leaves from the park headquarters at about 8PM each night (RM10).

Eat
There is a cafeteria that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (usually buffet style) for RM10-15, cold drink cans for RM2.50, and 1.5 L water bottles for RM4. They also sell essentials like sunscreen, snacks, ice cream, soap etc.

There are no cooking facilities within the lodges, however the private rooms have refrigerators.

Drink
Visitors to the park should ensure they carry large quantities of water with them; trekking in subtropical rainforest is thirsty work. The cafeteria has a variety of drinks including beer and soda. The veranda of the main building near the cafeteria is a nice place to sit with a beer in the evenings, and a great place to meet other travellers.

Sleep
There are bungalows for rent at the park headquarters. They are in high demand, so online booking is recommended. Being a national park, there is no privately run accommodation. A stay of a night or two is highly recommended to experience the full diversity of Bako, although accommodation can be stuffy and not particularly clean. Be sure to keep all windows secure and lock all belongings inside: the monkeys are not afraid of people and will try to steal your things.

Camping
There is a designated campsite behind the park headquarters; bring your own equipment. RM5 per person. Beware of the monkeys, though, as they have been known to rip into tents to take food and belongings.

Budget
There are 2 "forest hostel" rooms of 4 beds each, with fans, pillows, and flat sheets only. Beds cost RM15, or you can rent the entire room for RM40 per night. The dormitories do not include indoor bathrooms: toilets, cold water showers and a sink area are on the porch. Private rooms are also available from RM50 to 150 per night, with either shared or attached toilets. All private rooms include sheets and towels, and the 2 and 3-bed rooms have refrigerators. Only the RM150 per night rooms have air-conditioning. Note that the Malaysian tourism tax of RM10 per night applies here as well as every other hotel in Malaysia. Slow but reliable Wi-Fi is present in the main administration and cafeteria building only.

Stay safe
Visitors are advised to stick to the marked trails, and visitors attempting the longer trails are required to register their arrival and itinerary at park headquarters. Read the estimated times the park suggests you allow for each trail and ensure that you allow enough time to return to park headquarters - or else arrange a meeting time at a selected beach with the boatman.

The trails are unsuitable for people suffering from limited mobility. Some parts of trails are negotiable only by wooden ladders and rickety bridges and boardwarks. Judging by the huge number of people passing through, these are better maintained than it might appear, but you'll still want to tread carefully

Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) may be found near river mouths and in mangrove swamps. There are signs alerting visitors to this fact. However the creek at Tajor Falls is safe to swim in.

Go next

 * Kuching, the regional capital and transport hub, is the nearest town of interest.
 * Kubah National Park offers more hillside trekking options
 * The Santubong Peninsular offers more sandy beaches and coastal jungle, with a much classier choice of accommodation

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

title: Bako National Park


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Bakreshwar

Bakreshwar is a pilgrimage centre in the central region of West Bengal.

Understand
According to Hindu belief, an insulted Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, sacrificed herself at a yajna (fire worship ritual) which was being performed by her father Dakshmaharaj. Angry with this incident Lord Shiva started the tandava nritya (dance of destruction). In order to prevent the destruction of all creation, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan charka (wheel) to cut the body of Sati into several parts. Sati's body was scattered all over the Indian subcontinent. There are 51 such holy spots where temples have been erected and they are called Pithas or the Shakti Pithas. Some of the Pithas are in West Bengal. The most popular of them are Kalighat (in Kolkata}, Bakreshwar and Tarapith. Bakreswar is said to be the pitha where Sati's forehead and eyebrows fell.

The main temple is that of Shiva or more popular than that of Bakranath. In architectural style it is akin to the “rekha-deul” of Odisha. Numerous Shiva temples surround the main temple, and a large number of temples are without any image.

According to legend, the disfigured and disconsolate Astabkra {also known as the sage Lomas), out on a pilgrimage, arrived at Kasi (Varanasi) intent on worshipping Shiva. He was informed that his prayers could not be answered till they were offered at an undefined spot named Gupta Kasi (the hidden Varanasi) in the distant realm of Gaur (Bengal). Astabakra took to an eastern direction and ended at Bakreswar, where he adored Siva for ten thousand years. The god, touched by the persistence of his votary, declared that those who worshipped. Astabakra first and himself afterwards would be vouchsafed an endless store of blessings. Viswakarma, the architect of the gods, received a command to erect a temple on the auspicious spot, and a stately shrine soon rose on the eastern shore of the river Bakreswar containing two graven images, the larger of which represented Astabakra. There is no evidence of the present temple being such an ancient one. A tablet records that a portion of the edifice was erected by one Darpanarayan in the year 1761 AD.

There are eight hot springs of varying temperatures. The hottest, known as the Agni Kundu, is not far short of. It is said that water has healing powers. There is a large pond for bathers. Some piped water is also available for those who do not desire to get down into the pond.

By train
Bakreshwar is not served by any railway stations. Suri and Dubrajpur are the nearest options.

By car
Bakreshwar is on the Suri-Dubrajpur Road. There are two such roads - one via Chhinpai (near which is the power station) and the other via Bakrehwar. The latter is the lesser-used and slightly longer route. Buses ply this route.

Get around
It is a small place where you can walk around easily.

Buy
Nothing special. There are many shops trying to attract the attention of the pilgrim-tourists.

Beside Bakreshwar in the village Tantipara, there are a large number of handlooms that can be seen. A variety of silk products are available here. Many visitors take a short tour of Tantipara, "the village of handloom products".

Eat and drink
There are many small eateries serving Bengali food and snacks. Beverages are available at Tantipara. However, no alcohol is allowed on the temple premises.

Go next

 * Kendubillo
 * Santiniketan
 * Tarapith

title: Bakreshwar


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Baku

Baku (Azeri: Bakı) is the capital of Azerbaijan and is the largest city in the Caucasus. Baku's Old Town has UNESCO World Heritage status. Many cultures and architectural styles mix in Baku, in particular Turkish-Islamic elements meet strong Western European and Russian-Eastern European influences. With 92 ft below sea level, Baku is the lowest-lying capital city in the world.

Understand
Baku is on the coast of the Caspian Sea on the southern coast of the Absheron Peninsula. There are three major divisions in Baku: İçəri Şəhər (the Old Town), the Soviet-built city, and the newest part of the city. The population in 2020 was 2.3 million.

The city of Baku is on the semi-arid and dusty Absheron peninsula. The center of Baku is a patch of green in a largely brown area because of the many liters of water that is piped daily to the city. The city has a metro, a well-developed bus and minibus network, and a large area for walking, including the Inner Walled City, The Boluvar, and Fountain Square.

Reading the book Ali and Nino is a good way to get into the mood.

Climate
A curious fact about Baku is that its average year-round temperature (14.2°C/57.6°F) matches the average temperature of the entire landmass of the earth to within a tenth of degree. Summers are hot and humid, winters cool, wet and breezy. However, seasonal temperature variations are less than in many continental regions at this latitude (about 40 degrees north) owing to the presence of the Caspian Sea.

By plane
Getting there and away:
 * By bus – T1 Airport Express runs between the airport and the railway station (the bus waits across the street from the station) with an intermediate stop at Koroglu metro station. The ride costs 1.30 manat, payable by BakiKart (the same one used in the metro). The bus runs every 30 minutes. Additionally, N16 runs between the airport and Samed Vurgun Park, in the heart of Baku. The trip costs 1 manat and takes approximately 40–60 min. Service runs every 30 minutes beginning from early in the morning until late night. The bus leaves outside the airport building, across the parking area. The service terminates at on 28 May Street.
 * By minibus – No. 135 runs between the airport traffic circle (15-min walk from the airport) and the 28 May Metro Station. The journey takes an hour and costs 0.40 manat.
 * By taxi – Getting a smooth ride from the airport to town can be a hassle. The lowest price you can get for a taxi to the center should be around 15 manat (old Lada, unmarked taxi). Only one taxi company is permitted to do business at the airport. This monopoly drives up the price to nearly 50 manat and many times it leaves you with no other options, especially when arriving at late hours. Police occasionally force out all cab drivers trying to do business on the fringes of the airport, leaving you stuck with a high fare. Taxis don't have meters so you must negotiate in advance. If you are not finding a reasonable price, go out of the airport, past the taxi stand, and ask the cabbies at the far end of the parking lot. Be cautious since the majority of Baku cabs are unmarked. Don't let the cab driver renegotiate the price with you. It is a common trick to ask for much more on arrival to your destination. You are not obligated to pay what they demand. For 5 manat you can take a cab from the airport to Metro Azizbeyov. From there it's 4–6 stations to the city center, but only 06:00–00:00.

By train

Domestic trains are very cheap, and most journeys cost less than 10 manat, making them cheaper than staying in a hostel.

International trains are available from Georgia, Russia and Ukraine on a regular basis:
 * Tbilisi – As of 2023, this seems to be on hold since COVID.
 * Moscow – The journey takes 51 hr and departs once a week, and there are also connections from Rostov and Kharkiv. Trains running through Russia are operated by Russian Railways, schedule and tickets are available at rzd.ru.
 * Kyiv – Despite the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the rail link between Baku and Kyiv seems active. Once a week a train does the 60-hr journey.
 * Ankara – The long-delayed rail link between Georgia and Turkey opened in 2017 for freight only. As of June 2023, the passenger services via Tbilisi are yet to start, with no announced date.

By bus

From specific destionations:
 * Agstafa – 7-8 hr, 8 manat
 * Sheki – hourly from 06:30-18:00, 6 hr, 6-9 manat
 * Lankaran – 4 connections per day, 5-6 hr, 5 manat
 * Khachmaz – 3 hr, 3 manat
 * Saatli – 5 hr
 * Imishli – 4 hr
 * Ismailli – hourly in the morning and afternoon, 6.20 manat

 * Tbilisi – Take a marshrutka for 4 lari from Station Square to "Tsiteli Khidi" (the border, Red Bridge). Then catch a marshrutka or bus from the other side to Baku for 12 manat. The entire journey takes about 9 hr.

By boat

On foot
There are pedestrian alleys and streets around the Fountain Square, the seafront, and the old town. You can walk to other places, too, but you might have to cross busy streets since there aren't always pedestrian tunnels available. The zebra crossings work with an "I'm feeling lucky" principle and aren't usually exactly safe, especially at night. At night, use your phone screen (not your flashlight) to indicate to the approaching cars that you are crossing the street, and follow other people.

By bicycle
Baku is a great town to get around in by bicycle. Except for the up-town, the city, including old town (İçəri Şəhər) and down-town is fairly flat, and though there are some streets that are dangerous to ride, there is almost always a safe, fast route to your destination.

While there are no separate bike lanes on the streets, and cars and cyclists often share narrow streets of Baku, the city is very bike-friendly. While cycling on the street, be very careful watch out for other cyclists, always keep closer to foot-walk side of the street, and show other traffic where you are going (e.g., by holding out your hand) in order to avoid accidents and smoothen the traffic flow.

By bus/minibus
Buses and minibuses cost 0.30 manat per person and can take you to almost any place within Baku. Destinations are usually posted on the front and the right side of the bus.

Newer buses (the red ones) only accept electronic cash in the form of metro cards, available at any metro station. Some larger bus stations have machines to top-up cards, but not to buy new ones.

There are some buses which cost 0.35 manat, e.g. the one to Bibi Heybət Mosque in the south. This makes charging disposable electronic cards a challenge: if you buy the single use tickets, they might not be sufficient if you just load them with 0.40 manat, thinking of going forth and back once.

By metro
The metro goes many places throughout Baku and it costs only 0.30 manat. It is the least expensive way to get around Baku besides walking. Ask a cashier or attendant. You must obtain a Bakı Metropiliten Kart (2 manat refundable deposit) and load it like a normal metro pass. You can also buy a limited card (0.2 manat) with 1, 2, 3, or 4 trips (the last one costing 1 manat). More than one person may use the same card. Alternatively, you can use a Azerbaycan Sosial Kartı like the ones on some Azerbaijani ATM cards. The metro workers will be more than happy to help if spoken to in either Azeri or Russian, and some may understand English.

You can buy a metro card at the metro station and some bus stops from a ticket machine. You can change the language of the machine to English.

It runs from 06:00 until 24:00 and gets very crowded in rush hours.

Be careful when transferring trains at the transfer stations (28 May and Jafar Jabbarli Cəfər Cabbarlı) as the signage is difficult to spot.

There have been reports of people being arrested while taking photographs of the metro station. There are clear signage on the stations which prohibits taking photos, on the outside it is ok.

The Avtovaghzal metro station is worth seeing from the outside as it is a giant glass pyramid.

By train
The Baku electric train runs through several parts of Baku and the surrounding area including Sumqait. 1 manat.

By funicular
The Baku funicular is a great way of getting to the Viewpoint and Flame Towers. It is not too expensive.

By taxi
London taxi cabs have been introduced in Baku, and travel fees are 0.70 manat per km. Other vehicles however also are available. A taxi costs 4-10 manat for trips within the center of Baku. It's important to agree on the price of the fare before beginning the trip or you may be overcharged.

Most taxi drivers simply double the price for tourists. So, halving it while negotiating and doing the walk-away trick, should reveal the genuine price. Doubling a price is seemingly much easier than tripling it. Otherwise, just use Bolt (a taxi app for your mobile) as indicator or/and negotiator.

Going out of Baku with a taxi, rely on Google Maps and direct the driver. Many driver seem to know just one way in and out to sights outside of Baku, but not efficient ways between them.

By rental car

Many good deals are available with the usual reservation websites. Just beware of hidden extra fees (of the website itself) for insurance you do not really need.

Note that Baku und Azerbaijan in general have many automated speed cameras, and it is not uncommon to get a ticket—which will be sent via SMS directly to the car owner. So, don't be surprised when you have to pay a little extra when returning the car. Locals say 60 manat for a weekend trip is not uncommon.

Old Town (Icheri Sheher)
There are a number of interesting sites within Baku's walled fortress, the Old City (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which can all be seen on foot in one day:

Other sites

Baku Region
Outside the city, on the Absheron Peninsula, there are several interesting sites, like Yanar Dag (the burning mountain) and the Atashgah Fire Temple (with roots to ancient Indian migration), for a day or evening trip that are easy to reach via taxi or public transportation. Moreover, the scenery along your route is a fascinatingly ugly desert wasteland with white salt flats and natural oil seeping into pools on the surface.

In addition, the Baku Region is famous for its active mud volcanoes that might also be reached within a day. The according to several online maps. It's a mud volcano but without any active mud vents, but instead the waste of the neighbouring communities. However, it provides for a quite apocalyptic photo scenery.

See Baku Region for all the details.

Do
In the evening, go to the national opera on Nizami street. Otherwise, go to the rooftop bar at Sultan Inn in the Old City for a drink and excellent views of the Maiden Tower, Caspian sea and the TV tower.

Beaches
There are a couple of beaches including Shikhov Beach, but they are polluted by sewage and industrial waste. On the northern side of the peninsula are the much nicer Bilgəh and Amburan beaches, on the north coast of the Absheron Peninsula are great spots to cool off from heat. Further afield are the beaches and resorts of Northeastern Azerbaijan.

Money
Bankomats (ATMs) are available all around the city, mainly in downtown and metro stations exits. If you have a cell phone with either a Bakcell or Azercell SIM card, you can recharge your account balance using various ATMs. The International Bank of Azerbaijan has a list of their ATMs in Baku. Some of them have euros and US dollars available. It is advisable to withdraw in US dollars and change it to AZN in an exchange house, which usually gives a far better rate.

What

 * Antiques from Old City (İçəri Şəhər)
 * Rugs
 * Apples from Quba
 * Tea and Talish stockings from Lankaran
 * Halva from Sheki
 * Traditional dolls created by ladies' groups in Barda

Eat
There are many restaurants in Baku and kebab shops can be found easily for a quick meal.

Western
Sultan Inn rooftop or Meridien hotel rooftop restaurants for European/fusion with excellent views or head back to the Fountain Square for a greater variety of inexpensive cuisine.

Tea houses (Çayxanalar)
There are many outdoor tea houses (çayxanalar) serving tea and sweets that offer a sense of the local culture. If you are adventurous, try challenging a local Bakuvian to a game of backgammon (nard) or dominoes.

Cafés
There is a good selection of cafés throughout Baku. Expect to pay Western prices for your coffee.

Bars and pubs
Although tea houses (çay xanalar) (found throughout Azerbaijan) serve local beer (piva) - draft at 50 qapick/glass or bottles at 70 qapick/bottle or vodka (araq) at 2 manat/bottle, for anything exotic (e.g. tequila, gin, or rum), you will have to go to a normal bar or hotel and pay Western prices there.

Internet
Many cafés in Baku now have free WiFi. In general, Internet cafes in Azerbaijan are called "internet klubs" and they are found throughout Baku. Public WiFi service is available in central areas and attractions, providing easy connection.

Post office

Azerbaijan Post locations are dispersed throughout Baku. Mailing an international letter generally costs 0.8 manat.

AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines)
As Azal seems to be in a permanent state of flux as to where their offices are located, pop into a travel agent and ask about tickets very carefully before buying anything. In some cases, like Naxcevan or last-minute flights, you will absolutely have to go the ever-moving central office during a few random opening times in order to get your tickets processed. One travel agent who can guide you buy phone is reachable at +994 55 4201220 or +99412 5551320 or 5981619.

Stay safe
Baku is considered a safe city, nevertheless common sense is useful as in all other big cities. Homeless people do not harass or attack people and are safe to be around. The biggest problem in Baku is driving. Many drivers do not obey rules and speed.

The security is rather high, with regular security checks at some attractions and metro stations. The metro has police guarding both ends of the escalators.

Since the Karabakh conflict re-ignited in September 2020, security has been further tightened.

Emergency contact numbers

 * Ambulance: 103
 * Fire: 101
 * Gas Emergency 104
 * Speaking Clock 106
 * Police: 102

You must speak in Azeri, Turkish or Russian to communicate your needs. It would be a good idea to memorize key phrases before coming to Azerbaijan - see the Talk section for phrasebooks. The police are friendly and try to be helpful. Be nice and understanding and don't get frustrated if you don't understand each other immediately. Write down your phone's IMEI code in case it gets lost so it is easier for the police to find.

Safety tips
The roads can be treacherous at night due to unseen potholes and dimly lit cars. Most areas in and near the downtown are safe. There are some underpasses under particularly busy roads (some with escalators), and some zebra crossings and traffic lights. Watch out for traffic police if otherwise crossing a busy road, they may try to fine you 20 manat for a traffic offence (even though the locals do it constantly).

Embassies
Many details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/azerbaijan

 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
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 * Georgia
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Within Azerbaijan

 * Nabran – Relax by the Caspian on the beach or in a resort. Azerbaijan's biggest tourist destination for international travellers and a coastal city close to Xachmaz.
 * Quba – Its urban suburb is home to the largest Azerbaijani Jewish community in the mountains and is considered one of the largest Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union.
 * Khinalug (Xinaliq) – A scenic, remote and ancient mountain village, and the mountain of the same name nearby. Once a centre of Zoroastrianism; today the few inhabitants are an ethnic isolate believed to be descendants of the Caucasus Albanians (unrelated to modern-day Albanians of Albania).
 * Sheki – A 7-hour bus ride to the northwest. A beautiful city in the Caucasus mountains with much to see and do. It has one of the largest densities of cultural resources and monuments that span 2,700 years of Azerbaijani history.
 * Lahich – A cozy and remote highland village, on the way to Sheki. Famous for its copper work.
 * Shamakhi – The former capital of the medieval state of Shirvan. Famous for its traditional dancers, Şamaxı dancers, and its impressive mosque. An ancient history and once one of the key cities along the Silk Road.
 * Naftalan – A well-known petroleum spa resort, the centre of medical tourism in Azerbaijan. Go and enjoy the oil baths.
 * Ganja – One of the oldest cities in the Caucasus.
 * Nakhchivan (region) – The Baku Airport is one of the few in the world offering flights to Nakhchivan and travelers heading that way should book a flight from here.

Outside Azerbaijan

 * Georgia – There are direct buses and trains into Tbilisi from Baku.
 * Iran – Buses take international travellers onwards from Baku there.
 * Turkmenistan – A ferry departs daily from Baku across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi. This ferry has become something of a sleeper hit with backpackers on the Silk Road, but is very uncomfortable and should only be taken by adventure-seekers.
 * Kazakhstan – A similar ferry (often the Merkury-1 or the Professor Gul) leaves from "Baku International Port" in Alat, 60 km south of Baku (the ferry previously left from Baku harbour proper until late 2018). The cabins are basic but clean and (fairly good) food is served on board, three square meals a day. It takes approximately 30 hours, and arrives at the port of Kuryk in Kazakhstan (be warned! The port is in the middle of nowhere and the cabbies there are hustlers. Best to try to hitchhike a truck out of the port, many of the drivers are friendly Ukrainians, to avoid US$30 or more for a taxi). US$70 4-person cabin, US$80 2-person. Cars, motorbikes and bicycles also taken.

title: Baku


text:
Baku Region

Baku Region is a region in Azerbaijan, which includes the Absheron, Agsu, Baku, Haciqabul, Khyzy, Qobustan, and Shamakhi rayons.

Cities and towns

 * – Capital of the country whose historical center is a.
 * – In the 18th century, it was one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan.
 * (Şamaxı) – A former capital of the medieval state of Shirvan. It is famous for its traditional dancers, Şamaxı dancers, and its impressive mosque. It has a long history and was once a key city along the Silk Road.
 * – Due to its industrial plants, the Blacksmith Institute, a US environmental pollution agency, ranked the city as the most polluted city of the planet in 2006 and 2007.
 * – Absheron district capital, Xırdalan, is also home to the country's largest brewery, the Baltika Baku.

By plane

 * Heydar Aliyev International Airport is the nation's main airport.

By train
Trains from Russia, Georgia and even Turkey arrive at Baku Central Station.

By bus
International bus arrivals are available from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Belarus at Baku International Bus Terminal.

By thumb
Drivers are commonly friendly with backpackers and road trippers, so auto-stop is an option to go to Turkey and Georgia.

By boat
It is also possible to get to the region from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan by sea. Vessels arrive at Port Alat.

Get around
The best way to explore the region and whole country is probably to rent a car. Rental services are available in Baku, but Aznur might just be your best choice.

The Baku Region is a great place for cycling. Azerbaijan also hosts the international Tour d'Azerbaidjan competition.

Azerbaijan has a well developed bus system within the country. Bus services are available from local terminals. There are many local buses from Baku available for day trips around the Baku Region.

Auto-stop is also an option to travel within the region.

Absheron Peninsula
There are several interesting sites here for a day trip from Baku.

Other mud volcanoes in the region

There are many more mud volcanoes around Baku, which can be found by having a look at a map like OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use.

Do

 * The Absheron rayon is home to one of the best beaches in Azerbaijan, in Novkhany. There are many luxury resort areas along the coast. Bus 171 from Koroghlu metro station stops near the beaches at Bilgah.

Eat
Roadside cafés and restaurants are oases, and somewhat points of interests for travellers. You definitely will happy to discover islands of civilization while road tripping.

Drink
There are many spring water points, especially near shrines and mountain areas. However, in the southern part of the region it can be a problem and only stores will be available.

Within Azerbaijan

 * Northeastern Azerbaijan in the north. Famous for its location by the Caspian Sea, with beaches and resorts, and remote mountain villages.
 * Sheki Region in the northwest. Gateway to the Azerbaijani Caucasus.
 * Southern Azerbaijan in the southwest.
 * Talysh Region in the south.

Outside Azerbaijan

 * Georgia – There are direct buses and trains to Tbilisi from Baku.
 * Iran – Buses take international travellers onwards from Baku there.
 * Turkmenistan – A ferry departs daily from Baku across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi. This ferry has become a sleeper hit with backpackers on the Silk Road, but is very uncomfortable and should only be taken by adventure-seekers.
 * Kazakhstan – A ferry departs irregularly to Aktau (every 7–10 days maybe). Docks are located 2 km to the west of the old town in Baku. It is difficult to get tickets.

title: Baku Region


text:
Bala

Bala (Welsh: Y Bala) is a picturesque town of 2,000 people (2021) on the shores of Lake Bala (Welsh: Llyn Tegid) in Gwynedd, North Wales. It lies at the south-eastern edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Excellent national centre for white water rafting and canoeing nearby.

By road
Bala lies on the main A494 Mold—Dolgellau road, a few miles south of its junction with the A5 London—Holyhead trunk road.

By bus
Bala is served by TrawsCymru T3, between Wrexham and Barmouth. Connections with services from South Wales and North-West Wales can be made at Dolgellau.

By train
Bala is not connected to the national rail network. The nearest connections are at Wrexham or Blaenau Ffestiniog. The Bala Lake Railway makes the 9-mile journey to the village of Llanuwchllyn at the southern end of Bala Lake. This follows part of the route of the old Ruabon—Barmouth line, which was closed in the 1960s.

Talk
According to the 2001 census, Bala ranked 11th most Welsh-speaking town in the country, with 80.1% of the town's population able to speak the language fluently. As with anywhere in Wales, visitors will encounter no problems conversing in English, though a "Bore da" (Good morning) or "Diolch" (thank-you) will always be appreciated.

Do

 * For a more sedate water-borne experience, it is possible to hire rowing boats, canoes and sailing dinghies on Bala Lake.
 * Look out for Tegi, Bala's answer to the Loch Ness Monster, which is said to inhabit the deep waters of Bala Lake. Visitors can make up their own minds as to the likelihood of her existence. The lake houses a genuinely (scientifically verified) unique creature: the Gwyniad (Coregonus pennantii), a freshwater fish of the salmon family. The Gwyniad is native only to Bala Lake which existed nowhere else in the world. A project to introduce it to another nearby lake was undertaken from 2003 to 2007, to mitigate the risk of its extinction should some tragedy (pollution or similar) befall Bala Lake.
 * Football: Bala Town ("The Lakesiders") play soccer in the Cymru Premier League. That's the top tier within Wales, but mostly amateur and on a par with England's fifth-tier National League. Their stadium is Maes Tegid, capacity 3000, on Castle St.
 * Look out for Tegi, Bala's answer to the Loch Ness Monster, which is said to inhabit the deep waters of Bala Lake. Visitors can make up their own minds as to the likelihood of her existence. The lake houses a genuinely (scientifically verified) unique creature: the Gwyniad (Coregonus pennantii), a freshwater fish of the salmon family. The Gwyniad is native only to Bala Lake which existed nowhere else in the world. A project to introduce it to another nearby lake was undertaken from 2003 to 2007, to mitigate the risk of its extinction should some tragedy (pollution or similar) befall Bala Lake.
 * Football: Bala Town ("The Lakesiders") play soccer in the Cymru Premier League. That's the top tier within Wales, but mostly amateur and on a par with England's fifth-tier National League. Their stadium is Maes Tegid, capacity 3000, on Castle St.
 * Look out for Tegi, Bala's answer to the Loch Ness Monster, which is said to inhabit the deep waters of Bala Lake. Visitors can make up their own minds as to the likelihood of her existence. The lake houses a genuinely (scientifically verified) unique creature: the Gwyniad (Coregonus pennantii), a freshwater fish of the salmon family. The Gwyniad is native only to Bala Lake which existed nowhere else in the world. A project to introduce it to another nearby lake was undertaken from 2003 to 2007, to mitigate the risk of its extinction should some tragedy (pollution or similar) befall Bala Lake.
 * Football: Bala Town ("The Lakesiders") play soccer in the Cymru Premier League. That's the top tier within Wales, but mostly amateur and on a par with England's fifth-tier National League. Their stadium is Maes Tegid, capacity 3000, on Castle St.

Events

 * A number of canoeing competitions are held in the area
 * Wa Bala music festival
 * Wa Bala music festival

Sleep

 * Henstent Holiday Park, Henstent Park, B4391 Llanfyllin To Bala Rd, Llangynog, Powys, SY10 0EP. Perfect for those looking for tourer caravan accommodation, Henstent Park is a short distance away from Bala.
 * Henstent Holiday Park, Henstent Park, B4391 Llanfyllin To Bala Rd, Llangynog, Powys, SY10 0EP. Perfect for those looking for tourer caravan accommodation, Henstent Park is a short distance away from Bala.

Go next

 * Llangollen
 * Chester - Historic City of Chester on the border with Wales.

title: Bala


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Balaklava

Balaklava (Russian, Ukrainian: Балаклава) is a small sleepy town in Crimea.

Understand
On the edge of the city of Sevastopol, on a well-protected bay on the Black Sea, is the small harbor town of Balaklava. This quaint sleepy town has an interesting history and is well worth a visit if you are in the Crimea. It is known in history for the "Charge of the Light Brigade", a near-suicidal attack by British cavalry against Russian cannon, which took place 4 km outside the town in 1854. The battle in the city also brought name to the balaclava, a type of headwear that masks most of the wearer's face.

The town is overlooked by the remains of a Genoese fortress; the Genoese used the port as a staging place for their lucrative trade in slaves and goods. Later the Mongols took it, and the Ottoman Empire took control of it in 1475. In the 1850s the harbor was filled with British troops and ships during the Crimean War.

Later the Soviets built a submarine base into one of the hillsides, and turned the town into one of the most secret of locations during the Cold War era. In 1991 the base was closed and the last submarine left in 1996. And now it can be visited with a Russian-language guided tour.

Balaklava is just waking up to its tourist potential and new hotels and restaurants are opening up. Balaklava is a mixture of luxury yachts moored next to expensive hotels and empty derelict factories and buildings dotted on the edge of the waterfront.

Get in
There is a bus service from Sevastopol: take a number 9 marshrutka from the '5 km' bus interchange, which you can reach by trolleybus 12 from central Sevastopol.

Get around
You can walk to most of the sites in the town - but from one side of the harbor to the other side is quite a trek. Maybe in summer you could catch a lift on a boat.

See

 * There are over 50 monuments in the town dedicated to the exploits of soldiers during the Crimean War, Great Patriotic War (Second World War) and the Russian Civil War.
 * There is a World War Two German fortress further up in the hills by the sea: just follow the paths that lead up from the Genoese fortress, taking ones that lead upwards, and aim for the Orthodox cross that you can see on the top of one of the hills. There are various trenches, there's a cast-iron sentry's tower which overhangs the cliff, and lots of huge concrete fortifications which might be exciting to explore if you have a friend and several flashlights. No signage at all.
 * If you take a path that contours round the cliff beyond the Genoese fortress, you can get down to a small sandy beach.
 * There is a World War Two German fortress further up in the hills by the sea: just follow the paths that lead up from the Genoese fortress, taking ones that lead upwards, and aim for the Orthodox cross that you can see on the top of one of the hills. There are various trenches, there's a cast-iron sentry's tower which overhangs the cliff, and lots of huge concrete fortifications which might be exciting to explore if you have a friend and several flashlights. No signage at all.
 * If you take a path that contours round the cliff beyond the Genoese fortress, you can get down to a small sandy beach.

Do

 * Walk up to towers of Cembalo and beyond, it is a steep climb so be warned. - the countryside is beautiful, really quiet, there are lots of vineyards
 * Diving
 * Take a walk around the town but remember there are few signs to show you where any of the tourist attractions are!
 * Try to find all 50 of the war monuments!
 * Take a trip outside the town (about 4 km) to the site of the Charge of the Light Brigade (44°32′16″N 33°37′27″E). Not really much to see but a few memorials, as the "Valley of Death" is now a vineyard.

Eat

 * Cafe Argo does quite nice Georgian food pretty cheaply; the menu is in Russian only (and an English translation would probably just give the equally-incomprehensible Georgian names of the dishes), but the food was good, and locals will give you good advice if you appear baffled and ask them what to eat.
 * There are various places along the waterfront which will serve you coffee and cake during the day, and beer and small food at night
 * There is a quite expensive fish restaurant next to the 'Golden Symbol' yacht club. The food however, is excellent and the atmosphere is very welcoming, plus lovely views of the harbor.

Drink

 * The 'piratical pub', in a yacht club on the side of the bay with the submarine base, has cheap beer and a range of reasonable pub food.

Sleep

 * Listrigon Motel is very central (it's a circle of red-roofed little joined-up apartments which you can see from anywhere on the waterfront). They have a variety of tours, with a good English-speaking guide.
 * Listrigon Motel is very central (it's a circle of red-roofed little joined-up apartments which you can see from anywhere on the waterfront). They have a variety of tours, with a good English-speaking guide.

Go next
Take a bus to Sevastopol, a busy bustling city with some nice shops and lots of war memorials.

title: Balaklava


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Balasore

Balasore (also commonly referred to as Baleswar or Baleshwar) is a city in Odisha (formerly Orissa) in Eastern India.

Understand
The town is located on the coast in the north-east corner of Odisha. It is full of mixed cultures, and is greatly influenced by Oriya, Bengali and Marwari cultures. It's also an industrial hub with some major and numerous small scale industries.

Get in
Balasore is connected by road and rail. it can be reached from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata both by the NH-5 road and by direct trains on the Howrah-Chennai main line. Buses from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kolkata and Baripada are readily available. The nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar about 200 km away.

Eat
The town is famous for its tasty Rasgullas. Some of the better known sweet shops in the city are Mahi Rasagolla and Jagadathri Sweets. Mahi Rassagolla is famous for its rassagollas while Jagadhatri Sweets is known for Pantuas (a version of Gulab Jamun that is fried a little more deeply).

Be sure to also ask for Chhena Poda when you visit a sweet shop (literal translation: fried/burnt cheese in sugar). Chhena Poda is a little more expensive than a regular sweet dish and is generally sold by weight.

Go next

 * Panchalingeswar - this Shaivite shrine famous for its elevating natural splendour amidst the lush Nilagiri Hills and fine lingams over which runs a continuously flowing stream.

title: Balasore


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Balatonfüred

Balatonfüred is a town and district on the shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary.

Understand
Balatonfüred is the third largest town on Lake Balaton, after the brash party town of Siófok on the Southern Shore and Keszthely on the Western Shore. Luckily, Balatonfüred's Baroque elegance and traditional old town keep it from becoming too commercialised. There is still plenty to do in one of Hungary's oldest tourist spots.

This area is possibly one of the nicest resorts along the lake shore. Its beautiful promenades, tree-lined avenues and stunning views of the Tihany Peninsula make this town the finest on the Balaton shore. To catch Baltonfüred at its best, visit during the summer months of May - August.

The town has 5 international partnerships (twin towns): Germering (Germany), Kouvola (Finland) Opatija (Croatia), Kovászna (Romania), and Arpino (Italy).

Talk
The national language of Hungary is Hungarian. Many of the restaurant menus are also in English and as are many of the signs, yet finding people in the area that can speak English well is a difficulty.

German is the second language to many at the lake. English is simply not on the cards for many, particularly those of the older generation, so learn your one-word phrases well. These will come in handy, particularly at the train station where simple words like "Egy retur" (Return ticket) might save you on your holiday.

By plane
Balaton International Airport on Lake Balaton is accessible from Füred. It frequently operates charter flights to Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig and Düsseldorf in Germany, Billund and Copenhagen in Denmark, Amsterdam in The Netherlands and Moscow in Russia. Ryanair also operate flights from Düsseldorf-Weeze, Frankfurt-Hahn. Many flights are also available at Budapest Ferihegy Airport from destinations around the world.

Get around
Due to its size, walking around Balatonfüred is easy. There are excellent footpaths and tree-lined promenades. Even better, the Hungarians in Füred are very polite when it comes to pedestrians. They will almost always stop to let you pass the street. Balatonfüred is amazingly well sign-posted, so walking through the streets is simple.

Many people choose to get around on bikes, which is an excellent idea due to the abundance of high quality cycle paths. Also, roller-blading and scooters are hugely popular.

Suggested walking tours
No.1 walking tour: Start from Balaton shore-Tagore promenade: named after Nobel prize winner Hindu poet R.Tagore. He came for treatment in 1926 to the State Hospital for Heart Diseases. At the beginning of the pr. is the memorial tree and bust of him. At the end of Pr. is the Esterházy beach. In the park next to the Pr. memorial trees planted by various famous people who spent time in the town. Kisfaludy st.: Gyógy tér: State Hospital for Heart Diseases. Horváth house (built 1798). The first Anna-Ball was held in this building on her name day in July 1825. Now there are flats and shops in the building. Kossuth Lajos well-pump room (built 1853). You can taste sparkling mineral water. Anna Grand hotel and Panteon: built cca.1810. Here are plaques to commemorate artists, writers and scientists who had connections with Balatonfüred. In this building organised evry year in July the famous Anna-Ball (Beauty Contest). - Little forest-pine wood: 6 columns of the Stone Theatre (built 1831) - Blaha L. st. country cottage of the famous singer Blaha Lujza -now hotel. Round Catholic church (built 1846.) Jókai Villa-museum (Honvéd St). Built by Jókai Mór, the famous Hungarian writer in 1870. It was his summer cottage. Jókai Street-Ady E. Street th nicest part of the Downtown - Szt. István square: Town hall and "Red" catholic church. (1927) - Arácsi street-Gombás country mansion built in the 18th century, now a boarding house. Arács village centre: Kath. church (1790) Calvinist church (1786). Lóczy st.-Béke st. Koloska valley, and Csárda (Restaurant) Koloska spring:picnic area. Return to Lóczy Street look around at Hősök square: Ferenc Széchényi school for Horticulture. Not far, in the left hand: cemetery with grave of Lajos Lóczy-geologist.

Walking tour No.2: Pier: Borsos Miklós's statue: Balaton wind. Rose garden and statues: the Ferryman and Fisherman. Going to the Weston Zákonyi St: BYC Yacht Club, Hotels Silver Resort modern buildings: shops, restaurants, coffee bars. On the Szécheny st: hotels as far as Camping Füred. At the traffic circle going northerly on the Fürdő st: Sundance park with appartements. Annagora Aqua park: Open from 13. Juni till end of August. Horváth M. st: Balaton sport and conference centre: open air stage, arena, multiplex cinema, restaurant, fitness room, squash. Railway and bus station. Jókai St with nice old Villas. Kisfaludy St., visit the Kisfaludy Galerie.

Alsóörs
A resort village 10 km east of Balatonfüred, an old settlement at the foot of Somlyó Hill.
 * The most famous building here, the Turkish house, which was built on the hill of the village, around 1500, late Gothic style, now functions as an exhibition space. Other sights: Reformed church (Romanesque and Gothic style, 13th century, renovated in Baroque style in 1807, painted wooden ceiling dates back to 1721);
 * near to the border of the village worked red sandstone quarry, now an open-air theatre, commonly known as the amphitheater, in the summer performances are usually kept.
 * In the center of the village is operating the "Kocsma" (lit.:Pub). Here you will find a unique collection of folk instruments and instruction articles.
 * From Csere-hegyi Lookout you will see a great view to gentle slopes which is planted with vines, fruit-gardens and to the lake. There are numerous wine-shops and inviting cellars situated in the vineyards.
 * In the summer, there are cultural programmes, music events, art exhibitions, a rowing regatta on Lake Balaton, folk dances and disco nights. There is a new Sports Arena. The village beach received the title of the 'Best beaches on the Northern Shore'. Significant archery, water sports and kayak tours takes place every summer.
 * Stay: caravan camping sites, hotels, guest-houses, private accommodations.

Balatonalmádi
A resort village east of Balatonfüred. -
 * Fortified Reformed Church (12-13th centuries, inside Baroque, vaulted, undivided hall), St. Ignatius Church (Roman Catholic, Balatonalmádi-Vörösberény, Baroque, part of the ensemble of the Vorosberen monastery today operated hotel in the monastery),
 * St. Emeric's Church (Roman Catholic parish church, built in 1930 on the basis of plans of István Medgyasszay, mixed architectures, Transylvanian and the red stone).
 * Holy Right Chapel (in 1956 moved to here from Buda Castle, must see the Miksa Roth's golden mosaic depicting St Stephen and a fragment of St Stephen's right hand, the relics of Prince St. Imre and his motherHappy (Bavaria) Giselle was placed in here);
 * Lutheran Church; St. Margaret's Chapel; Outdoor Chapel, (in Balatonalmádi-Káptalanfüred).

Do: see the Óvári Lookout for panoramic view and the Pannonia Cultural Centre & Library for events, take walking tours on the Kocsi lake nature trail or on the Vörös Homokkő (lit.Red Sandstone) Nature Trail. Swim or sunbath any of three beaches: Káptalanfüredi Beach (Kócsag u. 1.), Wesselényi Beach (Szent István sétány 6.), Budatava Beach (Lóczy tér 1)/ Sailing, Fishing, Tennis, Cycling, Horse Riding -
 * Events here: Almadi summer festival starting from June to September every weekend with special programmes such as Spring buzz, Balaton Classic Ramada Grand Prix, Hungarikum (food) Festival; Palinkafestival (Spirit Festival), Wine Festival, Harvest Festival, Pumpkin Festival, Advent Fair (in winter), Almádi Napok (Days of Balatonalmádi), Péter Pál Napi Vigadalom (Peter and Paul Daily Festivities)-

Stay: two four-star hotels, a three-star hotel, five guesthouses and private apartments, and a campsite.

Balatonakali
This village is referred to as a great fishing place, still known by its grapes, and its wineculture. Here built the first (wine) bottling plant in the whole Balaton region. The old folk architecture of its can be seen on the Kossuth street's peasant houses.
 * There is a Regional Museum (Kossuth utca 36).

Do: enjoy the well-kept beach, strolling on the Promenad, rent a boat in the marina. Cultural programs, fishing facility, water sports give opportunity spending your time. There are restaurants with Hungarian taste of food. The wine-grovers are waiting for the guests with the famous wines of region.

Stay: ten youth camps, three international campsites there. There are also private accommodations with the Hungarian style of hospitality.

Csopak
Csopak (East of Balatonfüred): The picturesque environment of Csopak attracts the artists, the people who wish to relax and the enthusiasts of the nature.

The sights of Csopak are:
 * Csonkatorony (Stumpy Tower is actually a ruins of St. Stephen's Church from Árpád-era),
 * Paul Water mill (industrial history exhibition)
 * Siaint Miklós church ruins (14th-century) and the Ranolder Castle
 * Villa of Buda, Reformed Church, Cottage Congregation of Jesus' Sisters
 * St. Joseph Medical Source, Ornament well (at the entrance to the beach).
 * The arts lover can watch newer and newer exhibitions in Csopak Gallery.

Do: The beach, the summer programs, the friendly cellars of Csopak. Csopak is famous for its grape and wine culture. (olaszrizling). The summer programs are also related to the wine, at the end of June the Balaton Fish and Wine Festival, the Night of the Riesling, in the middle of July the 2nd Cellar Opening Festival, at the 2nd part of July the 1st Csopak Wine and Soda (Fröccs) Festival with the 6th Ulti party, at the end of July – at the beginning of August the Tuesday Wine Evenings and Csopak days – Wine week between 18 and 22 August. The ‘Csopakabana’ festival. In the middle of September is the Grape and Scarecrow Day and the popular Vintage Dishes Festival. Visit Mount Csákány Lookout (for view). Nosztori valley: for hiking trails

Paloznak
Paloznak six km away only buses stopping here.

Monuments here:
 * Roman Catholic Church (Arpad era),
 * Belfry; Village houses of peasants; County House (ethnographic exhibition);
 * Millennium Park, Dragon Fountain; King Ladislaus Sculpture;
 * Fountain of Heroes;
 * Saint Donatus Sculpture;
 * Calvary;
 * Pongrácz Castle,
 * Hampasz Fountain.

Do: In summer, church concerts, outdoor concerts, exhibitions provide entertainment. In the last weekend of September there are the Village and Harvest Days. There are guesthouses, rooms for rent, two campsites, a couple of pubs and a restaurant.

Örvényes
Örvényes (German: Erewin) - This is the smallest settlement of the Balaton Region with 170 inhabitants. Monuments: The water-mill (1055), the famous historic monument of the village, can be found some meters from the main street. In the 18th century rebuilt Miller house ethnographical and folk art collection can be found. The protected historic monument, the Stone bridge (built in the 18th century in Baroque style), the Water-mill, the Statue of Nepomuki St. János (end of 1700). The church (1200, Roman style, can be found on a hill above the mill). Saint Imre church (built in 1778–1783, in late-Baroque style). Two open air crosses (13th century, in the graveyard, and the other on the way to the wineyard). The Folk House (in St. Imre street). The ruins of a Roman villa. Bridge of Pécsely Creek (double port, late Baroque structure, circa 1800)

Do: Surrounded by the National Park of the Balaton-Highland, walk to the valley of the Pécsely stream, to the old oak trees or to the ruins of Zádorvár. Örvényes beach is nice and quiet, where you do not have to pay ticket. -

Stay: there are guesthouses, rooms for rent and a small campsite.

Tihany
Tihany (SW) - is a village on the northern shore of Lake Balaton on the Tihany Peninsula (Veszprém County). - catch a ferry from the port to Tihany, a stunning peninsula only a stone's throw away. With its Benedictine Abbey and amazing countryside, this peninsula is a must-see. However, bring good shoes as due to the hoards of tourists that flock to the town evrey summer, you might feel the need to go hiking into the hilly interior. The whole peninsula is a historical district. The prime sight is the Benedictine Tihany Abbey now also a museum (Address: I. András tér 1. Tel.: +36 87 538–200. - founded in 1055 AD by András (Andrew) I, who also buried here. The church was rebuilt in baroque style in 1754. The still functioning abbey is a popular tourist attraction. It also has the superb view of Lake Balaton. The echo is the othor main attraction of the village. See the Shouting Girl sitting on a 'Rock' (there is a legend which connect to the Echo: "...a princess with golden-haired goats was punished and her goats were lost in Balaton, only their nails remained, and she was obliged to answer to every passers-by..."). Other sights: Reformed Church (1793). Former Summer Residence of Archduke Joseph of Habsburg (a resort palace built in 1924-1925) can be found in the center of a very nice English Landpark which is about 20 000 m². Former monastery wine cellar and press house. Former abbey granary. Former Abbey Village's pub. Former Abbey doctor's residential house. Former Sports Hotel. Former abbey grange.

To do here: enjoy the beaches on the peninsula ("Somos" open beach, "Gödrös" open beach, Port beach, Yacht club beach, Beach of Sajkod), cycling (a cycle road made safe to exploring the area on bike), hiking (numerous volcanic hills, geysers, the Outer and Inner-lake, the forests and the Balaton shore on foot or on bike),
 * open-air theatre (live performances and concerts in beautiful environment),
 * open-air folk museum ('old life' is presented by several buildings of the museum along Batthyány street),
 * Family leisure park (a playground with a lof of toys, the sand box, the swing and the rope slide, also there is the bowling and the mini golf field).
 * Dolls museum (Visszhang u. 4. Tel.: +36 87 448–431, - porcelain dolls from latest 19th and early 20th century),
 * Historical Wax Museum of Hungarian kings and Pirate Museum (Kossuth u. 35. Phone: +36 30 9468-220). Marzipan Museum (Batthyány u. Phone: +36 30 216-8191).
 * Open Air Museum (Pisky sétány 12. Phone +36 87 714-960).
 * Hungarian Historia (Audiovisual attraction, Posta köz 1. Phone +36 30 864-8373).
 * Levendula House Visitor Center, Tel.: +36 87 538 033,
 * Forest adventure park (try to climbing tree or a half-circle slide),
 * Shipping (Balatonfüred and Siófok can be easily reached by boat), strolling on Pisky promenade (look at the beautiful panorama)

Zánka

 * Zánka is an intimate village at the gate of Nivegy-valley, on the shore of Lake Balaton. Its historic monument with nationwide significance is the Christian Reformed Church built in the 11th century. The other sight of the village is its Village Museum (’Tájház’) from the 18th century. The Village House (’Faluház’) is the centre of the local cultural life. The Children and Youth Centre, the former Pioneer Town (’Úttörõváros’), which is the national centre of youth tourism, belongs to Zánka. Its sailing and ship port is open. On the territory of the Children and Youth Centre an adventure park was established. The establishment is suitable for the vacation of disadvantaged children, too.

Do: The emblem of Zánka is Hegyestű. Take a walk to visit the first geopark of the country. Pentecostal Wine Festival every year. Excellent place for fishing tourism. The cycle path around Lake Balaton goes across Zánka. The local riding school welcomes guests all the year. In Zánka there was a Riding Festival. Among the programmes of Zánka the Fishermen Days in summer and the Grape Harvest Festival in autumn are outstanding.

Stay: In the village you can find numerous pensions and private quarters in addition to the restaurants of high quality. The Children and Youth Centre has a hotel.

Do
Balatonfüred, the yachting capital of the Lake, is a hub for water sports. Along the beaches, there are many paddling boats to be rented (Ft 2500H for an hour), ad can sail boats and electric motorboats. There really is no shortage to the amount of water-fun one can have in the lake. However, neither jet skis nor combustible motorboats are allowed on Lake Balaton, with the exception of the local ferry service and law enforcement officials.

Land activities, including the tennis courts and of course the cycling, blading and jogging are hugely enjoyable. However, one of the greatest activities is a hike into the hilly surroundings of the town. The stunning countryside filled with vineyards and rolling hills is the perfect place for a picnic or indeed a quiet country stroll. The views of the lake are also a treat.

 * Kisfaludy Theatre, Honvéd u. 2–4. Tel. +36 30 502-7132
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Kisfaludy Theatre, Honvéd u. 2–4. Tel. +36 30 502-7132
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Kisfaludy Theatre, Honvéd u. 2–4. Tel. +36 30 502-7132
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Kisfaludy Theatre, Honvéd u. 2–4. Tel. +36 30 502-7132
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.
 * Take a trip to a vineyard. There are many tours offering this, along with wine tasting evenings in a countryside wine cellar.
 * A cruise along the Lake with Champagne and Cake is also fun.

Festivals
What seems like a disproportionate amount of festivals and celebrations are hld each year in Balatonfured. Some of the main events include:
 * International sailing competitions, Sail setting ceremony in May,
 * The Guitar Festival, held in June
 * Balatonfüred Festival of the Arts in July,
 * Anna Ball, one of the most unique balls in Hungary, is the most well known festival in Fured. This classic social function has been organised annually since 1825 and its date is always set on the weekend closest to 26 July, Anna day. Nowadays the traditional venue for the ball is the Anna Grand Hotel.
 * The Wine Tasting Festival, held every August, is proof of the excellent viticulture present in the rolling hills behind the town.
 * Balatonfured Jazz Festival
 * Bay swim in August
 * Concerts in summer, the prize-giving celebration of the international poet contest named after Salvatore Quasimodo. in September
 * Balatonfüredi Arts Festival (Balatonfüredi Művészeti Fesztivál)
 * Festival of ages (Korok fesztiválja)
 * Jókai Days (Jókai Napok)

Spa
One of Hungary's original spa towns, Balatonfüred remains as a spa haven. Spas and wellness centres can be found throughout the town and are a real treat. Its mineral springs are therapeutic and extremely relaxing.

Eat
There are a large selection of restaurants in Füred. However, along the lake shore you are not certain to find anything particularly Hungarian. The restaurants there tend to be of an average quality, serving mostly fish and other popular dishes. However, if you go away from the lake and into the old town or simply a short stroll up from the lake, the restaurans become better and more authentic.

Sleep
Much like the other tourist destinations, there is an abundance of high quality accommodation in the town of Balatonfüred. Villas and self-catering apartments are a popular choice for many families, many of which have a private pool. They can range in size from small cottages to large eight bedroomed houses.

Of course, hotels are also very popular in Füred and there are many beautiful hotels within the immediate vicinity of the lakeshore.

Hotels

For more hotels and other accommodations visit Balatonfüred Website. It gives a wide range of accommodation in the vicinity.

Stay safe
Balatonfüred is a very safe place.

Dogs roam the town at all hours and, as it seems, everyone in Balatonfüred owns a dog which they keep in their gated houses. Indeed, walking past these houses is sure to send you up the wall as the silence is interrupted by the sudden barking! Nonetheless, while the vast majority of these dogs are on leashes and gated up, beware of what you or your children pet.

Cope
Balatonfüred postal code is: H-8230

Religious services
There are places of worship all over the town. Your hotel or local tourist office should be able to guide you to one nearby. If not, though, the following are centrally located.

Go next

 * Győr — the Town of Waters
 * Keszthely — a large town on the west coast of the lake close to the famous Héviz Spa, is well worth a visit. With its Festetics Palace built in 1775, it is a truly amazing town.
 * Székesfehérvár — former Hungarian Royal City
 * The party town of Siófok, again only a short ferry away, is also a good way to se the southern shore of Lake Balaton, yet while it has been somewhat spoiled by highrise and tourists, it nonetheless has everything the tourist would need with a great nightlife to boot.
 * Zirc — Abbey Library, Arboretum
 * Veszprém - visit the medieval Castle on the Hill and the nicest Hungarian viaduct.

title: Balatonfüred


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Balatonszemes

Balatonszemes is a city in Lake Balaton region of Hungary.

Understand
Tourists usually find Balatonszemes a beautiful and charming city, with a lively night life. Balatonszemes suffers from air pollution, mainly due to traffic. Balatonszemes is subject to power outages almost daily. Balatonszemes is a quiet city because even if there is a party, if you ask them to turn the music down, they will. Balatonszemes is undergoing a major renovation: many old buildings have been repainted, but a lot of work is left to be done.

By bus and furgon
Buses can be used to reach Balatonszemes from other cities in Hungary and internationally. There is daily bus service (look at schedule). Schedules change frequently so check the latest info in your place of departure.

Buses and furgons (minibuses) are generally the best method for traveling within Hungary. There are few bus companies; many are operated by individual drivers. Bus lines have schedules, but are often delayed until the coaches are full or at the whim of the driver.

Some international bus stations are far from the center so it may be worth taking a taxi to the bus stop if it is too far to walk.

By plane
Balatonszemes is served by Ferihegy Airport (MA).

The following airlines offer service to/from Hungary:

Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air One, Austrian Tyrolean Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Olympic Air, Sky Express, Turkish Airlines.

By bus
Public transportation in Balatonszemes consists of a number of intra-city bus lines. The main bus line is run by the MÁV company.

By foot
The city center is small enough to be explored on foot.

By taxi
A ride across town are cheap and comfortable. Negotiate a price before departing.

By car
Part of a hire fee will be used to upgrade the Balatonszemes ring road.

Eat
There are many excellent, inexpensive restaurants in Balatonszemes serving all kinds of food (but good luck finding a taco!).

Sleep
There are many nice hotels to stay, and they are found near the city center.

title: Balatonszemes


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Balboa

Balboa is separated from Panama City by the Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill), one of Panama City's skyline landmarks.

Understand
Between the entrance of the Panama Canal and the City, Balboa is the home of the Panama Canal Administration ACP, and part of the what was called "Canal Zone" when the Americans still ran the Canal. Now the official term is 'areas revertidas' or reverted areas.

Get in
5 Minutes north of Balboa you'll find Albrook with its airport that handles all domestic flights and the huge Albrook Mall which is also home of the 'Gran Terminal' where all buses to/from Panama city arrive and depart. The main port of Balboa is for big commercial vessels only but the Balboa Yacht club, actually in nearby Amador, serves the cruising community.

See
Besides many ACP administrative buildings its landmark head office, there is a large residential area and a port. Like other residential areas built by the Americans the setup is very spacious and green as opposed to the typical Panamanian urban planning.

Do
The ACP main administration building is worth a visit, especially when combined with a walk up Ancon Hill to enjoy the wildlife and beautiful views of the City and Panama Canal entrance. Adjacent to Balboa (south) you'll find Amador and its Causeway. This is a great area for walking and bicycling (rentals) while enjoying views of the city skyline and waterfront.

Sleep
There is a hostal, Bed and Breakfast and hotel in Balboa.

Connect
There are a few services useful to travelers such as the post office, 2 banks (with ATMs) and in the former YMCA building you'll find an Internet café and some travel agents.

Go next

 * Panama City - capital city
 * Taboga - island

title: Balboa


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Baldwin

There is more than one place called Baldwin:

United States of America

 * Baldwin (Florida) - A town in Florida.
 * Baldwin (Michigan) - A town in Michigan.
 * Baldwin (New York) - A hamlet in New York.
 * Baldwin (North Dakota) - A town in North Dakota.
 * Baldwin (Wisconsin) - A town in Wisconsin.

title: Baldwin


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Baldwin (Wisconsin)

Baldwin is a city in Wisconsin.

title: Baldwin (Wisconsin)


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Baldwin City

Baldwin City is a city in Eastern Kansas in southern Douglas County where the soil is rich and wildlife is plentiful. Baldwin City is the home of the oldest college west of the Mississippi, and of wildflowers in profusion, some patches of the old prairie grasses, and some fine outdoor recreational resources reserved for public use.

Get in
Baldwin City is 20 minutes south of Lawrence on US Hwy 56.

See
The Clarice Osborne Memorial Chapel on the Baker University Campus, is a Gothic chapel that was built in 1864, and brought over from Sproxton, England, stone by stone and rebuilt in 1996 at Baker University. The surrounding church yard has been landscaped similar to an English church yard.

The Midland Railway operates excursion trains on a line built in 1867. Trains make an 11-mile round trip from Baldwin City to Norwood, traveling through scenic Eastern Kansas farmland and woods using vintage railway equipment.

Be sure to take a drive out in the country following the trail Quantrill used when he raided the area between Lawrence and Baldwin City. New trail signs have been placed and a map is available. Built in the early 1960s and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Douglas State Fishing Lake is 1 mile north and 3 miles east of Baldwin City. 538 acres of land surround the 180-acre lake. Altogether there is over a square mile of varied habitats for fish, wildlife and recreation. Fish species in the population include bluegill, white and black crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, carp and white amur. Fish habitats provided include brush piles, tire and rock reefs, and old bridges and foundations submerged by the dam.

Do
Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival

Festival with more than 300 arts and crafts booths, parade, quilt show and train rides.

Typically drawing well over 25,000 visitors annually, the Festival derives its popularity from a wide range of family fun, food, and foot-stomping musical entertainment. Perennial favorites include a carnival, petting zoo, Kansas' oldest quilt show and the Kids Zone with activities for children under 10. Enjoy free, continuous, live musical performances during the weekend.

The festival begins Saturday with the Kiddie Parade at 10:45AM and the Grande Parade at 11AM. More than 300 arts and crafts booths (indoor and outdoor) are open Saturday 9AM-6PM. and Sunday 9AM-5PM. For those in search of a snack, beverage or even heartier fare, a large selection of food favorites is available from local vendors both days. Guided bus tours to area historic sites run Saturday afternoon and the Midland Railroad's excursion train to "Nowhere" operates hourly Saturday and Sunday 11AM-5PM.

Convenient parking for festival-goers is provided in satellite lots at the Baldwin Elementary School Intermediate Center west of town on US-56, and at Baldwin High School, just north of US-56. Free shuttle buses run Saturday until 6:30PM from both satellite lots to the Baldwin Elementary School Primary Center, which houses the Quilt Show and numerous arts and crafts booths. From there, a free tram service operates both days, providing easy access to all other festival locations and events. To help ensure the safety and enjoyment of all who attend the festival, Baldwin City Council prohibits animals at public events. Exceptions include service animals and animals participating in official event activities. Festival-goers are urged to leave dogs and other pets at home.

The Maple Leaf Festival is always the third full weekend in October.

title: Baldwin City


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Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park is a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County in Southern California.

Get in
Baldwin Park is located near the intersection of Interstates 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) and 10 (San Bernardino Freeway). The most convenient airport is LA/Ontario International Airport located right on I-10.

See
The city has quite high Hispanic population, so its nickname is known as "Mexican Beverly Hills".

Eat
The first In-N-Out burger restaurant opened in Baldwin Park and is still in business.

title: Baldwin Park


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Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands (Catalan: Illes Balears, Spanish: Islas Baleares) are an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain.

Cities
Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, offers its visitors not only sunshine, numerous bars, restaurants and shops but also a beautiful harbour and a historical centre.

By plane
The Balearic Islands have the airports of Palma de Majorca, Ibiza and Mahón, making any journey extremely easy.

By air, the flight from Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid takes less than an hour, while from París and London, it takes under two.

By ship
It is also possible to reach them by ship, since Barcelona is only a night-crossing away aboard the most modern vessels. The journey takes just eight hours. It is also possible to take vehicles to the islands aboard ferries specially designed for the purpose. Both air and sea services have extra flights and crossing during the "high season" (July 1st-September 30th),

By boat
No check-in needed when arriving from Spain or another Schengen country - otherwise Palma, Ibiza and Mahon can be used as ports of entry. See also.

Get around
If you are visiting the centre of Palma your best bet is to go on foot.

You can also hire scooters and bicycles if you prefer. If you decide to drive into the city from another part of the island, leave your car in one of the municipal car parks. You will be offered a bicycle (free of charge) to use to explore the city until you return to pick up your car.

There is one railway line in Majorca, departing from Palma which will take the traveller to a number of villages on the island. A quaint and antique wooden electric train departing from the main station in the Plaza de España will take you on a beautiful journey through the mountain range to the quaint village of Soller. If you prefer, you can hire a car.

Schedules for buses, trains and ferries for all islands can be found on horariodebus.es website.

When travelling by boat, be aware that marinas are quite expensive in the Balearic. It's generally many nice anchorages, but those that offers protection from any wind direction is mostly filled up by bouys (either private or for rent). Be aware that one may get a bad fine for anchoring on sea grass (in the daylight it's often possible to see if the sea bottom is sandy or weedy, and it's also possible to see it on satellite photos. There are also some resources on the web and even a "posidonia app", but as of 2023 those didn't work very well.  There may be a three day time limit for staying by anchor in the same spot, and in some places this is actively enforced.  Unlike at some places on the mainland Spain, it's trivial to land and park a dhingy in the Balearics.

See

 * Visit the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Balearic Islands
 * Menorca

Eat
The local cooking of the islands is exotic, exquisite and at the same time imaginatively presented.

The official Majorcan foodstuff should be a type of red pork pate called sobrasada in Majorcan, sobrasada in Spanish. Highly popular in parts of the mainland too. The red colour comes from hefty amounts of sweet paprika. It is good. There is also an official Majorcan cake, called ensaimada. It contains pumpkin jam and lard (obviously the Majorcans do keep some pigs) and it is delicious. The locals are very proud of their centuries-old olive trees, so while visiting the island it would be worth trying Majorcan extra virgin olive oil, which is otherwise hard to find.

Drink
Palo and Hierbas are two of the most popular local liquors among local residents. Palo is made from the fruit of the carob tree. It is often drunk mixed with soda water and sometimes even taken for medicinal purposes. Sweet, mixed and dry "Hierbas" are available. The ingredients include assorted herbs.

title: Balearic Islands


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Baler

Baler is a small town in Aurora Province on the east coast of Luzon in the Philippines. It is situated between the Sierra Madre mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, in the vast plain at the mouth of Baler's Bay.

Understand
Founded in 1609 by Franciscan missionaries, Baler is also the last place held by the Spaniards until they were kicked off in 1899. In 1951, Baler became the capital town of the new province of Aurora, then part of Quezon until it was separated officially in 1978.

The "Charlie don't surf" scene in Apocalypse Now was filmed at Baler, and the movie is credited with popularizing surfing in the Philippines.

Get in
For general info on getting into Baler, see "Get in" in the Aurora article.

Do

 * Surfing: there are many surfboard rental shops around the beach access.

Stay healthy

 * Premiere General Hospital, Nueva Ecija - Aurora Rd, open 24 hours; https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=816868048488938 +639189059377
 * Mercury Drug-Baler Branch, Quezon St, Poblacion, 8AM-8PM

Connect

 * The post office is in the bus station area.

title: Baler


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Balestrand

Balestrand is a small charming village on the northern shore of the Sognefjord in Sogn og Fjordane.

Understand
Balestrand has long history as a tourist resort. This little village was one of the favorites of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. For more than 20 years the Kaiser on his «Hohenzollern» and a flotilla of naval ships, including several hundred staffs and troops, "invaded" Sognefjord. Days after the fatal shots in Saravjevo 1914, the Kaiser again headed for vacation in Norway. On July 25th 1914 the Kaiser left Balestrand, war broke out July 28th and he never returned.

By plane
The closest airport is either Sogndal or Førde. The closest international airport is Bergen.

By bus
There are express buses three times a day from Oslo. There are local buses five times a day from Førde, and five times a day from Sogndal.

By boat
Express boat two times a day from Bergen, in the summer. Only once daily during winter, 1 Sep-30Apr. Once daily from Flåm, 1May-30Sep. Twice daily from Flåm, 21Jun-17Aug. These routes are operated by Fjord1. The ferry terminus is in located in the centre of Balestrand, less than ten minutes from any of the hotels.

By car
There are two roads into Balestrand:
 * Route 55 from Sogndal and across the Sognefjell mountain area between Luster and Lom. It is the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe (highest point 1430 meters), and it has been awarded the status of National Tourist Route because of the spectacular and wild mountain scenery it passes through. From the west route 55 connects to E39 at Vadheim.
 * Route 13:
 * From the south connections to Hardanger and Bergen through Voss and Vikafjell pass (ferry from Vangsnes)
 * From the north connections E39 through Gaularfjell mountain pass which is also a national tourist route.

Get around
Balestrand is small so it takes no longer than 15-20 minutes to walk from one side to another.

Do

 * There is a nature trail up the hill from Balestrand and numerous other marked hikes go through the woods and along ridges up to the tops of mountains with plenty of great views of the fjord. Some can be turned into very long circular routes (about 8 hours). Maps and more information for these can be obtained from the tourist information office or your hotel reception.
 * There are some trips on small boats out into the fjord as well as the regular large daily ferries to Fjærland Glacier and Vik stave church.
 * Cars can be rented from Kviknes hotel in Balestrand or from one of the larger towns nearby. One of the National tourist routes of Norway runs from Balestrand along some smaller fjords and up into the Gaularfjell mountains a truly beautiful road and landscape. Bicycles can also be rented from Balestrand tourist information.

Buy
For groceries, there are Coop and Joker shops both less than 5 minutes walking distance from the ferry terminal.

Eat
Most people eat in their hotels, which have excellent restaurants or meals included.

Go next

 * Route 13 towards Førde via Gaularfjellet mountain pass, national tourist route.
 * Route 55 to Sogndal is a scenic drive along the fjord.
 * By boat to Fjærland to see the glacier. This is a beautiful voyage in the narrow fjord, surrounded by high mountains. Advanced booking is recommended, but not necessary. The route is operated by

title: Balestrand


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Baleyara

Baleyara is a town in Niger. It is two hours from Niamey on the route to Filingue.

Get in
Bush taxis leave early from the Wadatta (pronounced Wa-dah-TAH) gare in Niamey, CFA 1,750 per person in a minivan or slightly more in a station wagon. Or, you can rent out an entire station wagon for CFA 20,000 one-way. One decent driver is Oumarou, 96-62-73-96.

See and do
Sunday is market day in Balleyara, a 2-hour drive east from Niamey. The spectacular market gets going at about 10:00. Balleyara is known across West Africa for having one of the largest animal markets, with camels, long-horn bulls, horses, sheep, goats, and more for sale. Sellers and buyers come to the Balleyara animal market from all across Niger and other nearby countries. It also has a very lively regular market with a mix of Zarma, Bella, and Fulani cultures.

Buy

 * Traditional hand-woven wedding blankets in bright, colorful patterns in various sizes and with complicated weaving.
 * Black etched wooden bowls.
 * Carved spoons, available from the same people as the black etched wooden bowls.
 * Carved calabashes
 * Pagne fabric sold by pagne (2 metres). Enitex brand from Niger is cheaper.

Eat and drink
Street food stands are your best option. You can also find delicious local bread and sweet bread. On the main road just outside the market are a couple of boutiques that serve food such as rice and sauce, omelet sandwiches, etc. Filtered and sealed water is for sale for 25F each, known as "PureWater" (pronounced Pure-Watta)

Sleep
There are no hotels in town but there is a new campement/resort about 3 km before town, with all the amenities. However, you could also visit Balleyara as just a day-trip from Niamey.

Connect
Good mobile phone reception.

title: Baleyara


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Balfour

There is more than one place in the world called Balfour. You may be looking for:

 * 1) Balfour, an unincorporated community in the West Kootenays of British Columbia, Canada
 * 2) Balfour, a small town in McHenry County, North Dakota, United States of America.
 * 3) Balfour, a small town in Southland, on the South Island of New Zealand.

title: Balfour


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Balgue

Balgue is a tiny village on Isla de Ometepe, an island on Lake Cocibolca in Nicaragua. The village lies at the base of Volcan Maderas.

Get in
From Moyogalpa port area there are direct buses to Balgue at 08:20, 10:15, and 15:45. You can also take a bus from Moyogalpa to Altagracia (leaves at least once per hour) then take another bus from Altagracia to Balgue. Buses do not run to Balgue on Sundays.

There are taxis as well.

Get around
The town of Balgue is small and can easily be walked in a few minutes. However, a system of footpaths connect Balgue with all the neighboring villages and farms. A day can be spend wandering the fields and paths, a hearty "buenas" usually enough to lead to adventures.

See
Climb Maderas Volcano, take in the sights from atop the muddy mountain, and then wander in the petroglyphs laden fields around Finca Magdalena.

Do

 * Tours Project Bona Fide offers 2- to 3-hour guided tour where you learn about soil management, waste water management, energy efficiency, our use of solar & wind power, inter-planting, agro-forestry, layering methods, water catchment systems, how to discourage ravenous insects and how to support wider varieties of birds, insects and animals on a farm all while maximizing food production. After the tours, full traditional Nicaraguan lunch prepared with products from the farm and a chance to meet the locals.
 * Tours Project Bona Fide offers 2- to 3-hour guided tour where you learn about soil management, waste water management, energy efficiency, our use of solar & wind power, inter-planting, agro-forestry, layering methods, water catchment systems, how to discourage ravenous insects and how to support wider varieties of birds, insects and animals on a farm all while maximizing food production. After the tours, full traditional Nicaraguan lunch prepared with products from the farm and a chance to meet the locals.

Eat
After eating the yummy if slightly over-priced gallo pinto at Finca Magdalena, wander down the road to the blue pulperia and order queso frito with tostones. Drink it with a tona and watch as the entire town of Balgue wanders by.

Sleep

 * Another place is Project Bona Fide. They offer dormitory rooms for US$25 a night which includes three square meals (except Saturday night), any fruit you find on the farm, and a tour of the farm. The price is cheaper if you volunteer for 4 hours in the morning. They also offer a private room for $23 a night.
 * Another place is Project Bona Fide. They offer dormitory rooms for US$25 a night which includes three square meals (except Saturday night), any fruit you find on the farm, and a tour of the farm. The price is cheaper if you volunteer for 4 hours in the morning. They also offer a private room for $23 a night.

title: Balgue