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Boracay

Boracay is a tropical island about an hour's flight from Metro Manila in the Philippines. It has superb long white sand beaches and is one of the country's most developed tourist destinations. White Beach, Boracay placed 2nd in Condé Nast Traveler's 25 Best Island Beaches in the World: Readers' Choice Awards in 2020.

Facilities are available to suit different levels of activity. Facilities for the usual water sports activities such as sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling, diving and jet skiing are also widely available for those in search of more active pursuits. The fun in Boracay also doesn't end when the sun sets. Boracay nightlife is pulsating with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until the very late evening.

Boracay is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a full range of facilities in a prime tropical location and can pay for it. However, it is not a good bet for bargain hunters; prices are relatively high by Philippines standards, though moderate by Japanese or Western standards and lower than many places in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or South Pacific.

Since reopening in October 2018, there are new rules and regulations, and a limit to the number of tourists allowed on the island. You must have a hotel pre-booked before they will let you get on the boat to Boracay. There is no eating or drinking on the beach, no smoking, no fire dancing, and no commercial sandcastles. In addition, no chairs, loungers or umbrellas are allowed on the beach, so think carefully about whether to visit if you are disabled, elderly or just want to avoid direct sunlight and sit on the beach. Be prepared to be offered a massage, boat ride, parasailing, kite surfing, sail boating, hair braiding, island hopping, and henna tattoo every 20 steps on the beach's "sidewalk" path.

Orientation
There are dozens of beaches on the island, and White Beach being the longest and the most popular of them, where all life goes on, it occupies roughly all western part of the island. On the opposite side of the island (eastern) there is a main kitesurfer's beach - Bulabog. Other beaches are much smaller and tranquil. All parts of Boracay are interconnected with the help of the Main Boracay road which runs from South to North through all island.

White Beach is several kilometers long and thus it's divided into three parts (from south to north): Station 1, Station 2, Station 3.

Climate
During the dry season (November-April; the northeast monsoon or amihan blows from December to March), White Beach is calm and very suitable for swimming, etc. The other side of the island has large winds and waves making it suitable for wind surfing, wave running, etc. During the rainy season (June-October), when the southwest monsoon (habagat) blows, this is reversed, with a risk of typhoons. White Beach often gets large winds and waves which sometimes makes it unsuitable for swimming. Current weather conditions can be found online.

Get in
Whether you go by plane or by boat, the port of entry for Boracay Island is the small town of Caticlan on the mainland. Outrigger boats (bancaa) leave every few minutes from. The short boat trip to costs. There are two jetty ports in Caticlan (Caticlan and Tabon) and two jetty ports on Boracay (Cagban and Tambisaan). Because of the wind during September (or low season months), the jetty port furthest from the airport (Tabon) will be used to take you to Tambisaan port. Tourists have to pay a terminal fee of and an environmental fee of. Tricycles are available at Cagban to bring passengers to their hotels. Tricycle fare is from per pax up to  per trip depending where your resort is.

By plane
There are two airports serving Boracay.

By boat
Ferry from Batangas City to Caticlan port. Operated by 2GO travel. Departs Batangas port at 9PM and gets to Caticlan port at 6AM. Departs Caticlan port at 8AM and gets to Batangas port at 6PM. One way fares from.

Ferry from Batangas City port to Caticlan port. Another option is to start your journey with Philtranco, Alps, Dimple, Ceres or Rodastco coaches which leave at regular intervals throughout the day from Cubao, serving the Manila-Caticlan route for. Rodastco also offers a door-to-door service with pick-ups anywhere in Metro Manila. The contact numbers for trip booking are +63 2-7326891 or +63 917-3820426, or +63 919-3820426.

The more challenging do-it-yourself version goes as follows: The easiest way would be to book a straight trip that allows you to purchase just one ticket from Cubao terminal to Caticlan Port. The cost is. But if you really want to save money, you can also commute from Cubao bus terminal station (near Alimall). There is really no difference except for the fact that you need to purchase tickets at every stop. Cubao-Batangas: best leave between 7-8PM so you arrive in Batangas Port before 10PM. Batangas-Calapan: the trip takes 2 hours via cargo ship or an hour to one hour and a half via supercat. Do not purchase tickets for the Calapan to Roxas van as this can either be a scam or you end up squeezed in one van along with several other passengers with tickets. Calapan-Roxas: takes about 4 hours. Make sure you leave early so you arrive before 4AM. In the morning, the ship to Caticlan usually leaves at 2AM and 4AM and the next trip won't be until 10AM. The 10AM trip usually leaves late. This is the best time to leave travel via Cubao to Roxas. You arrive in Caticlan at 8AM and you are left to enjoy the rest of your day in Boracay.

7107 Islands Cruise offers a cruises from Boracay to Puerto Galera to Boracay, prices range from, children below than 3 years old are free to travel who is accompanied by 2 adults, children from 5 to 12 years old are given a 50% discount, who are accompanied also by 2 adults while senior citizens can avail a 20% discount. The cruise will tour around the Philippines in islands such as Boracay and Coron Island.

By road and ferry (RoRo)
The "Nautical Highway" is a combination of overland highways and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels that allow you to bring your vehicle up to Panay Island and visit key cities like Kalibo. Taking your car all the way to Boracay, though, is not possible. Public transport also operates on the same route, and is the most cost-effective way of traveling between Manila and Boracay. Assuming good connections, the total journey time is around 12 hours.

The easiest way of arranging this is to book a van in Manila by contacting private operators such as Angel Star (+63 2 783-0886 c/o Abner) and Gope (+63 2 732-6891 c/o Cesar). This will enable you to book a straight trip from Metro Manila to Caticlan at the cost of, more or less. Their group operates several passenger vans which can load 10-14 or 15-18 persons. You book the trip exclusively or share with fellow travellers. The van leaves at 9PM daily from Manila, travelling through Batangas-Calapan-Roxas (arrives Roxas at 5AM or 6AM) to catch the 8AM or 10AM ferry/boat to Caticlan, where you are expected to arrive between noon to 2PM. Before proceeding to Boracay Island though, be sure to get your return ticket (Roxas-Manila) at the Caticlan Ferry Terminal (inquire about the updated schedule from the staff of the van operators). Take an early dinner before boarding the van and bring water and something to eat while in transit. Riding a van gives you a more relaxed pace to Caticlan because you do not have to stop in many sub-destinations which lengthen your trip and therefore can be truly tiresome.

Get around

 * Boracay Tricycles.jpg visitors opt for motorized tricycles, which act as the island's taxis and make up most of its traffic. Rides are inexpensive, usually no more than  for individual (per tricycle, not shared with other people) ride to any point on the island, and can be found almost anywhere along the main road. As the tricycle seats are right above the vehicle exhausts, there can be a little pollution however - bring a handkerchief if you tend to be easily bothered by this sort of thing.
 * From Cagban Port to Station 1, the most that you should pay is per head. That is, if you don't mind sharing the tricycle with other tourists. If you don't want to rent the tricycle and allow the driver to pick up other passengers along the way, say you just want the "Individual" price and not "Special".
 * Short rides on busy routes, say from D'Mall to Station 3 or from Station 1 to Station 3, are a standard rate of per passenger, but expect the tricycle driver to ask for  or more if you look like a foreigner. Long rides, like Puka beach to D'Mall, should cost around . Drivers waiting near beaches, hotels, etc., generally ask higher price like, even if you're alone. It may be worth bargaining if there are a few people with you and you want an individual ride - otherwise, better catch a passing tricycle on the main road.

From Tambisaan jetty port to Station 2 D'Mall, the most that you should pay is ₱20 per head on the solar bus.

 * Scooters provide the best flexibility at a reasonable price. The downside is having to deal with island traffic which can be unnerving for visitors unused to the aggressive tricycle drivers. Prices are exorbitant, starting at per day rental (2016).
 * Mountain bikes are also available for rent at several locations along White Beach, which is off limits to motorized vehicles.
 * To explore around the island, rent a native sailboat (paraw) or motorized outrigger (banca) and visit the many beaches of Boracay.

Scuba diving
For those interested in scuba diving, there are dozens of dive centers along White Beach. Cost is typically per dive for certified divers which includes rental of all equipment. The dive centers, under the Boracay Business Administration of Scuba Schools (BBASS), have agreed on standard prices amongst themselves so prices will be the same at all centers. This is to ensure that dive centers could focus on quality and scuba diving safety rather than price wars. There are 25-30 dive sites within 10–20 minutes boat ride from the beach, suitable for beginners up to advanced level. Dives range from 'Angol Point' (10m), through 'Crocodile Island' (22-25m), a straightforward wall dive, up to 'Yapak'- a deep wall dive suitable for only the most experienced divers due to strong currents, although there is the possibility of seeing sharks and stingrays.

Boat tours
The best way to see the beauty of Boracay and its various beaches is by Paraw (native outrigger sailboat). You will be constantly asked if you want to take a boat trip, as there are literally dozens of companies offering this service. It is better to go with a reputable and established group such as Allen Fun Tours (motorized banca boat tours) or Red Pirates (paraw sailing) to ensure your safety and avoid being overcharged.

Kiteboarding
Boracay's Bulabog beach claims to be the best kitesurfing destination in Asia. The season runs from November through to April with onshore winds varying between 12-30 knots. A small lagoon (2 km wide) is protected from waves by a coral reef. The water becomes almost flat at low tide, making it easy to start learning kitesurfing and continue with freestyle tricks. Because of its nice conditions, the spot becomes overcrowded with riders in high season. A serious disadvantage is sewage pollution of the lagoon, so smell from water and infections from even small injuries are common.

Skimboarding
Skimboards are available for rent at several places along White Beach. But be sure to hire an expert to teach you the skills; a one-hour lesson from a local rider is usually around.

Budget

 * Along White Beach you will be approached frequently by women offering to give you a massage, which they will do on the spot or on a towel laid out on the beach - your choice.
 * A bit more organized, White Beach also has several "Massage Stations": collections of masseurs that have their mats set up. The stations are typically open as long as there are customers around but in general start to shut down just after sunset.
 * For Swedish, Accupressure, Shiatsu, etc., visit Abe (pronounced Abby) the blind masseur who operates outside Cocoloco restaurant in Angol (south of boat station 3). Only per hour.
 * There is a great outdoor massage station in the beach area of Nigi Nigi Beach Resort, where they have two tables set up. The booth is draped with curtains which they will close if you wish, or leave open if you want to watch the people on the beach. They offer every massage in the book, and charge for one hour.

Mid-range

 * There are several smaller/mid-range spas in Boracay that offer a menu including massages, scrubs and facials but don't quite have the facilities to be considered a full spa. Most hotels in Boracay offer a limited spa menu that falls into this category.
 * There are several smaller/mid-range spas in Boracay that offer a menu including massages, scrubs and facials but don't quite have the facilities to be considered a full spa. Most hotels in Boracay offer a limited spa menu that falls into this category.

Splurge

 * Caesar's, found along the main road near boat station 3, specializes in Thai massage and uses two masseurs simultaneously to deliver the service. A 90-minute massage is priced at US$50.

Buy
Along White Beach, especially around Station 2, there is a wide variety of gift shops and boutiques along the beach path. In addition to the crowded stalls that you expect in Asia, Boracay also has several high-end stores including clothing, art and household items. Some places will permit you to haggle, others have a fixed pricing system with price tags. Shop around as prices vary. Outside of White Beach, the shopping becomes sparse or non-existent. D'Mall at Station 2 and D'Talipapa at Station 3, between the main road and White Beach, have many shops. D'Mall is larger but D'Talipapa features a number of shops, vegetable merchants and a large meat market also selling a large selection of live seafood. Prices at D'Talipapa (including those for basic necessities such as milk, vegetables and meat) are about 25% below those of D'Mall.

While walking or laying on the sand, anywhere on Boracay, you'll be approached to buy a variety of items including jewelry made of shells, fresh fruit, ice cream, sunglasses or a nice massage.

 * Shell jewelry — similar to what you can find elsewhere in the world, the jewelry made of shells is popular as for the most part it is made locally from shells found on Puka Beach.

ATMs
There are about 10 ATMs of the following banks: PNB, Metrobank, BPI, and RCBC, on the entire island for the 16,000 inhabitants plus tourists, and when they run out of cash, they are not refilled until the next business day. On weekends and holidays ATMs might go several days without being refilled. Almost all of them accept Visa, MasterCard, and UnionPay cards. Maximum one time withdrawal is with compulsory fee for overseas cards of.

Many establishments, including the tricycles, cannot break a bill over, so it pays to always have small bills.

Foreign money (U.S. dollars, UK pounds, euros, Korean won, Japanese yen, etc.) can be exchanged at several locations around the island. It's worth checking around for the best exchange rate, as all places don't offer the same rate. You're best off heading away from the beach for better rates.

Eat
Because of its wide draw of international travelers, Boracay has a wide variety of places to eat, including a surprising number of bakeries. The majority of the restaurants are located on the White beach and a short pedestrian street called, nearly all of these places are quite expensive (average meal costing ). Cheaper options can be found near D'Talipapa Market, at the (street run parallel to D'Mall in 50 m of it), and perhaps about half of the restaurants along the Main road.

As a side note, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy one of the best mangoes in the world. The climate in Philippines is perfect for mangoes, so you always get them mellow and sweet.

Budget

 * Sunset View Restaurant and Hotel, near Station 3, serves a 3-5PM snack buffet (soup, ham and cheese sliders, fried fish, pasta, meatballs, pancit, and macaroons) for ₱189 per person in a relaxed beachfront setting.
 * Sunset View Restaurant and Hotel, near Station 3, serves a 3-5PM snack buffet (soup, ham and cheese sliders, fried fish, pasta, meatballs, pancit, and macaroons) for ₱189 per person in a relaxed beachfront setting.
 * Sunset View Restaurant and Hotel, near Station 3, serves a 3-5PM snack buffet (soup, ham and cheese sliders, fried fish, pasta, meatballs, pancit, and macaroons) for ₱189 per person in a relaxed beachfront setting.

Mid-range

 * Bamboo Bar Buffet, near Station 3, serves a 6-9PM Filipino buffet with pineapple juice for ₱295 per person in a relaxed beachfront setting.
 * Bamboo Bar Buffet, near Station 3, serves a 6-9PM Filipino buffet with pineapple juice for ₱295 per person in a relaxed beachfront setting.

Drink
If you like to party, there are plenty of places to choose from. The livelier bars are situated near Stations 1 and 2. There are plenty of places to party all night! Station 3 has a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere, with small local bars and restaurants popular with backpackers.

Sleep
Accommodation varies from top-of-the-line hotels and resorts to a simple bed rented from a resident. Whatever your budget, you can easily find a suitable place to stay. During peak periods such as Holy Week, Christmas and New Year, rooms are more difficult to find and more expensive, so book in advance.

Staying along White Beach gets you closer to the bars, lounging and food, while staying closer to Bulabog beach gives you better access to the popular wind and kiteboarding areas.

Boracay is notorious for travel agents (many in Manila) passing themselves off as the resorts, often through websites. When you call them to get a room rate or make a reservation, you will be quoted much more than if you called the resort itself. The travel agents simply take your request, call the hotel and make reservations and charge you extra for the service, up to double the original rate. Meanwhile, the traveler has no idea he wasn't talking to the resort. This can often lead to frustration, as the traveler will show up at his hotel or resort and see he was charged double the rate that the hotel is listing, even though the hotel had nothing to do with it! So the advice is, try your best to ignore the many travel agencies and make your reservation with the resort or hotel directly.

Better yet, don't make advance reservations in the low season. Just go to White Beach or the region you want to stay and negotiate deals with the places you want to stay at. Many street touts will offer to show you the rooms first and then you can negotiate.

If you prefer peace and quiet, avoid accommodation at the center of White Beach, as this is the most crowded area. Head further north or south instead. The area south of Stations 1 & 3 has a more relaxed and peaceful vibe - no pounding disco till 4AM. Accommodation is more reasonably priced, and there are some friendly little bars and restaurants where you can meet people and chat. North of Station 1 you'll find many of the more luxurious (and expensive) establishments. The beach is at its widest here, and the area is usually relatively peaceful.

Bulabog Beach
Bulabog Beach runs parallel with White Beach and is on the east side of the island. It is approximately long and has white sand similar to that on White Beach. It is protected from strong seas by a coral reef located offshore, and from late October to April the amihan (northeast monsoon winds) makes this beach very popular with windsurfers and kiteboarders. Bulabog Beach has the "old" Boracay atmosphere, being less developed than the White Beach area, quieter, more laid back, with onshore breezes most of the year, and a number of foreign residents have made it their home. In addition, resorts are starting to appear and the various types of water-sports (parasailing, banana boats, jetskis, waterskiing, etc.) are using this area during the White Beach off-season (May-October, when the habagat or the southwest monsoon wind blows). Access to D'Mall is only a 5 minute walk and a couple of minutes later you are on White Beach with all the crowds, restaurants, bars, discos, etc.

The sea at Bulabog is polluted with raw sewage from the whole island. You can see seawge pipes emptying into sea. Since the lagoon is semi-closed and shallow, and water circulation is limited, this produces a bad smell. The color of it will block all your thoughts about swimming there and lot of kiters will simply not allow you to. As a result, staying on Bulabog beach is not recommended if you want to enjoy the beach.

Near White Beach
Some hotels and resorts are located along roads and footpaths off of White Beach, generally within just a few minutes walk from the beach. Room rates in these may be a bit lower than prices for comparable rooms located in resorts which have beach-front entrances, and the rooms may be a bit quieter than rooms located right on the beach.

Stay safe
Sewage water pollution is one of the biggest problems in Boracay: raw sewage is piped directly into the sea. Some areas, like Bulabog beach, have been made completely unswimmable due to this problem. However, it puts the swimming safety of the entire island under serious threat.

Power outages still happen often (2016) and can last from several minutes to several hours. On the bright side however, substantial parts of more expensive resorts have back-up generators which solve the problem almost entirely.

Connect
Internet connections are pretty slow anywhere on the island. Wi-Fi can be found everywhere from splurge hotels to small guesthouses but again it's pretty crappy. Small Internet cafes exist but not widespread.

3G/4G is provided by mobile operators Smart and Globe.

Cope
Tips:

 * 1) Paperwork submission and payment cut off time is 3PM, so get there at least an hour before that.
 * 2) Hold on to the paper receipt you are given - if you lose it, there is a  fine.
 * 3) Pickup on date given after 3PM-5PM or up to 5 days after (anytime). After that, there is a  passport hold fee per day.
 * 4) If you stay in the Philippines more than 6 months, you must get clearance to fly out.
 * 5) It takes 10 working days to get it - for free, or 3 days processing for, or 1 day processing (actually 5 minutes) for.
 * 6) Clearance is valid for 30 days but not exceeding last visa date (clearance is 1 month maximum if visa ends in 1 month from now).
 * 7) You cannot get clearance when doing extension - only one transaction at a time (as you need submit a copy of your last visa extension & your passport, but in this office essentially you can get both done in 30 min if you pay extra).
 * 8) You will need 3 photos - 2x2 inches - which can be done in marketing agency upstairs for  pesos - includes DSLR shot and  print of 8 photos.  You also need copy front+back of your ACR card. Copies can be done upstairs at  each.

Go next

 * Kalibo — the closest major airport located in this town
 * Iloilo City — largest town on Panay

title: Boracay


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Borås

Borås is a city of roughly 66,000 inhabitants in Västergötland, Sweden.

Understand
Borås used to be the centre of the Swedish textile industry, and is still well known for having many shops that sell high-quality textiles at low prices.

By plane
There's no airport in Borås; the nearest international airport is Gothenburg's Landvetter. It is about 60 km away and has daily flight from most European air hubs.

By train
Commuter trains from Gothenburg run about once every hour, however due to old tracks they are slower than the bus. The Kust-till-Kust (Coast-to-Coast) trains between Gothenburg and Kalmar also make a stop-over there. Then there are regional trains from Varberg and from Uddevalla via Herrljunga. From time to time there have been direct X2000 fast trains from Stockholm, but a change of trains in Herrljunga is now required.

By bus
Bus #100 is a highway express from Gothenburg with departures every half hour. Several long-distance buses also makes stop-overs here.

By car
Rout 40 leads west to Gothenburg, route 41 south to Varberg, route 27 to Växjö and Karlskrona and route 42 north to Trollhättan.

Get around
Buses are operated by Västtrafik and cover the whole city and its suburbs. However, the centre city is small enough to walk around.

Do

 * Go for a walk in the city park, stadsparken, located in the city center.
 * Go for a swim in Stadsparksbadet - an indoor water park situated in stadsparken. They have a climbing wall and a wave pool.
 * Alidebergsbadet is a summer open outdoors pool by the zoo.
 * Watch football: IF Elfsborg play soccer in Allsvenskan, Sweden's top league tier. They often do well and qualify for European tournaments. Their home ground Borås Arena (capacity 16,000) is 2 km north of town centre. They share the ground with Norrby IF in Superettan the second tier.
 * Watch football: IF Elfsborg play soccer in Allsvenskan, Sweden's top league tier. They often do well and qualify for European tournaments. Their home ground Borås Arena (capacity 16,000) is 2 km north of town centre. They share the ground with Norrby IF in Superettan the second tier.

Drink
Although Borås might not be the best city in Sweden for drinking, it has a few places worth visiting.

 * Scandic Hotel Plaza Lounge. This hotel bar offers a relaxing atmosphere for starting the night. However not really worth making it an evening here.
 * Rådhuset Bar and club in the old town hall by the north side of the large square.
 * Bishop Arms The best place in town to drink beer. Has quite a large selection of European beer.

Go next

 * Gothenburg — Sweden's second city, with a lot to see and experience, 70 km west
 * Jönköping — scenically set at the shore of lake Vättern, little less than 100 km east
 * Varberg — with a fortress and a world heritage listed radio station, 80 km southwest

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

title: Borås


text:
Borșa

Borşa is a town in Maramureș.

Understand
A small mountain town, located near the eastern end of Maramureş, Borşa is a good base for hiking trips into the Rodna and Maramureşului massifs. It also has several ski runs.

Get in
Relatively frequent buses reach Borşa from Sighetu Marmaţiei (via Vişeu). Much less frequent ones link it with Vatra Dornei. There's also one daily bus from Iaşi via Gura Humorului.

Sleep
Accommodations are mostly available in the very numerous guesthouses ("pensiune"), but several hotels exist as well.

Go next

 * Vișeu de Sus

title: Borșa


text:
Bordentown

Bordentown is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey.

Understand
Bordentown is a town a few miles south of Trenton and is near the Delaware River, a fairly wide river that flows south along the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border to the Atlantic Ocean. It is at Bordentown where Crosswicks Creek meets with the Delaware River, and the I-295 crosses the mouth of the Crosswicks Creek.

The town is largely on a grid layout, although the grid is not aligned with north, south, east, and west.

By car
The main road to town is the I-295, a side-route of the I-95, which goes along the western side of the town. Two U.S. Routes go past the southern and eastern portions of Bordentown, and one of these, the US-130, intersects with the I-295.

By train
A train line runs along the northwestern side of Bordentown, and there is a train station for Bordentown.

By car
Farnsworth Avenue crosses the town in an almost north-south direction. In the south, it intersects with US-130, and it continues north to the Crosswicks Creek. Much of Farnsworth Avenue is part of Bordentown downtown. Crosswicks Road enters the town from the eastern side and goes to Farnsworth Avenue. The western end of Crosswicks Road is part of the downtown.

To get from the hotels to the gas stations and supermarkets, the US-130 is a decent connector.

By bus
There are several bus stations scattered around Bordentown. Most of these are on Burlington Street (southern Bordentown) and Park Street (northern Bordentown).

See
The area still has a strong Revolutionary War influence, and statues (particularly of patriots) are a common sight. There are also many beautiful, somewhat historic buildings in the downtown, like the old city hall.

Buy
There are some chain stores and supermarkets along the US-130 (the southeastern side of town).

Go next

 * Trenton is the capital of the state of New Jersey and is only a few miles' drive north from Bordentown.
 * Levittown is an interesting piece of history. It is a master-planned city that was built during the mid-1900s.
 * A little farther away is the city of Philadelphia, which also has a strong Revolutionary War influence. This city is one of the largest in the United States, and has been since the 1700s.

title: Bordentown


text:
Borensberg

Borensberg is a town in Östergötland, in Motala municipality.

Get in
It is easiest to reach by car but can also be accessed by bus from Motala and Linköping or by boat on the Göta Canal.

Get around
It's small - walk and enjoy the town!

See

 * The manually operated locks on the Göta Canal at the entrance to town

Do

 * Take a boat on the Göta Canal - Boats run daily through the summer both to Motala or in the other direction. One way ticket to Motala from 250 kr.
 * Take a boat on the Göta Canal - Boats run daily through the summer both to Motala or in the other direction. One way ticket to Motala from 250 kr.

Eat
Delicious but reasonably expensive food served in the Gota hotel (425 kr for a 3 course menu). Otherwise there are take away pizza and hamburger restaurants in the town.

title: Borensberg


text:
Borgarnes

Borgarnes is a town in West Iceland about 75 km north of Reykjavík, with a population of around 2000. It stands by a fjord called Borgarfjörður and is the centre of a vast municipality, Borgarbyggð. Snorri Sturluson, the compiler of the Prose Edda, lived here, in Reykholt.

Understand

While not traditionally a big tourist destination, Borgarnes is a town many people see on their travels in Iceland. This is because of its location on the Ring road between Reykjavík and North Iceland. Icelanders often don't know much more of the town other than its highway dining options. However, tourism grew in the 2010s with increased interest in the region's history. Borgarnes is a perfect getaway from Reykjavík: it only takes about an hour to get there, but the setting is completely different, much closer to what some people would term the "real" Iceland.

The name Borgarnes means "Borg peninsula" and refers to a farm of that name, Borg. Borg was the home of Egill Skallagrímsson, the titular character of Egil's saga.

Get in
Borgarnes lies on the ring road and is easily accessible by car. It's about an hours drive from Reykjavík, four hours from Akureyri. Borgarnes is also close to the junction where the road out to the Snæfellsnes peninsula splits off from the ring road and Stykkishólmur is just over an hour away by car. Between Reykjavík and Borgarnes there is a toll road, the tunnel under Hvalfjörður. The toll is 1000 kr each way for a normal car, but it's also possible to drive around the fjord adding just under an hour to your journey.

Several buses leave from BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík every day heading up to Borgarnes. Any northbound bus from Reykjavík should make a stop in Borgarnes. In addition, buses connect Borgarnes to Akureyri, Hólmavík and the towns on the north coast of Snæfellsnes.

Get around
Borgarnes is a small town and it can easily be explored on foot. There are no local buses or taxi companies.

Borgarnes is the principal town in a primarily agricultural region often simply called Borgarfjörður, after the fjord it stands by. It's a good base for visits to some of the historical sites in the area, such as Reykholt, or the natural phenomena which include Europe's largest hot spring, Deildartunguhver.

Farther afield

Eat and drink
Because of its location on the ring road, Borgarnes has several fast food eateries in gas stations along the road. The Settlement Centre, the Center for Puppet Arts and Hotel Bru have restaurants. The local liquor store is at Borgarbraut 58-60.

Reyka vodka is distilled in Borgarnes.

Go next

 * To the north-west, Snæfellsnes with Stykkishólmur, Hellissandur and Snæfellsjökull National Park with all its wonders are easily accessible from Borgarnes.
 * Heading east all the way through the valley at the end of the fjord will bring you to the Interior, and the glacier Langjökull.

title: Borgarnes


text:
Borger

Borger is a city in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. It was a wild oil boom town through the 1920s, 30s, and 40s and is still very much an oil town to this day. Borger is also home to Franks Phillips College.

Get in

 * Highway 152 comes in from the small county seat city of Stinnett, and Dumas in the neighboring county, 40 minutes to the northwest, and from Pampa, 25 minutes east.
 * Highway 136 comes in from Amarillo and Fritch.
 * Highway 207 connects Borger with Panhandle and Claude to the south.

Get around
As in other area towns, a car is necessary to get around.

See

Buy
Borger has a lot of antique shops.

Drink
Whether it's a legacy of Borger's boozin' gamblin' boomtown days, or a result of it being a college town, Borger has more than its share of watering holes when compared with many High Plains towns.

Go next

 * Alibates Flint Quarry National Monument, Cas Johnson Road (off Texas 136 seven miles southwest of Fritch), +1 806 857-3151. Beginning around 13,000 years ago, American Indians collected high-quality flint here for weapon and tool-making. Alibates Flint was traded across the continent long before the Europeans made their appearance. The park has over 700 quarry sites. Free tours are available by reservation only at 10AM and 2PM daily.
 * Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, access from headquarters at 419 E. Broadway in the small town of Fritch, 7 miles east of town on Texas 136. This man-made reservoir provides drinking water for 11 nearby cities and is a popular spot for boating and fishing. The surrounding lands have canyons of up to 200 feet and provide ample opportunities for hiking and observing wildlife.
 * The drive to the tiny county seat of Stinnett crosses the breaks around the Canadian River and is quite scenic. While there, check out the McCormick Cottage, an old wooden farm house built in 1899.

title: Borger


text:
Borigumma

Borigumma is in Koraput region of Odisha in Eastern India.

By bus
Buses, run by OSRTC travel between Jagdalpur and Jeypore. It should cost about ₹50.

title: Borigumma


text:
Boring

Boring, an unincorporated community of 8,000 people in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, is twinned with Dull, Scotland and Bland, Australia. The Boring official slogan is "The most exciting place to live."

Understand
The town is named for William H. Boring, a Union veteran who had moved to Oregon after the Civil War as one of the earliest settlers in the area and donated an acre to build the first Boring school. Boring was established as a rail junction in 1903 (the lines of the defunct Portland Traction Company, which ran from Portland to Boring, are now mostly trails) and relied on timber as a principal industry for much of the 20th century.

Since 2012, Boring's sister city is tiny Dull, in Perth and Kinross County, Scotland (pop. 85), a former seventh-century monastery site by the River Tay. This partnership has brought many Boring visitors to the one tiny Dull corner of old Scotland and generated publicity for both communities. Along with former gold mining and farming area Bland Shire, West Wyalong, Australia (pop 6,000), these villages form the "League of Extraordinary Communities", a grouping to promote Dull, Bland and Boring by capitalizing on their unique names.

By car
Take US-26 to Oregon Highway 212, the Clackamas Boring highway. US26, the Mount Hood Highway, is the main road from Portland to Mount Hood through Gresham, Boring and Sandy.

Get around
There is no public transport in this Boring town.

Buy
The Boring Community Planning Organization has been selling commemorative "Boring & Dull" t-shirts, mugs and merchandise.

There is also a raffle for a trip to Dull, Scotland.

Sleep

 * Additional lodging options are available in Gresham, South Portland and Clackamas
 * Additional lodging options are available in Gresham, South Portland and Clackamas

title: Boring


text:
Borjomi

Borjomi (ბორჯომი bohr-joh-mee) is a town in central Georgia as well as the name of a natural reserve and of the famous volcanic salty spring water. The source of this spring water lies in the Borjomi gorge.

Understand
Borjomi is a famous resort town, popular for its distinctive mineral water. The water from the well here is several times stronger than the Borjomi water you can buy in the shops. Borjomi has many hotels and was very popular in soviet times, of which you will still find many buildings in the city. Above the centre of the city there lies a plateau with a ferris wheel and further hotels, providing a great view over the region and mountains. Furthermore, the nearby Borjomi Kharagauli National Park is the largest in Georgia and a popular hiking destination.

By bus
From specific destinations:
 * Bakuriani – 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 17:00. 3 lari. (most buses will go further to Tbilisi)
 * Batumi – 10:00. 17 lari. 4.5 hr.
 * Kutaisi – Every hour. 2 hr. 6-8 lari.

Furthermore, the following is a time table for leaving Borjomi (verified Oct 2019). For the vice-verse trip similar times can be expected. The red minibus leaves from a small bus stop on the main road, it does not wait inside the bus station. (5 lari, Apr 2023)
 * Tbilisi: hourly from 07:00-14:00 and at 14:30, 15:30, 16:00, 16:45, 17:15, 18:00 (8 lari)
 * Batumi at 09:00 (17 lari)
 * Akhaltsikhe at 09:00 and 14:45 (the second departure is still unverified)
 * Chobiskevi at 08:20, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 (1 lari)
 * Dviri at 10:15, 11:45, 13:15, 14:30, 16:30 (1 lari)
 * Gori at 10:45 (5 lari)
 * Khashuri every hour between 09:30 and 18:30 (2 lari)
 * Mzetamze at 16:00 (1 lari)
 * Poti at 06:45 (15 lari)
 * Rustavi at 16:00 (9 lari)
 * Sachkhere (for Chiatura) at 11:00 (7 lari)
 * Tadzrisi at 12:00, 16:00 (1.50 lari) and 15:00, 18:00 (2 lari)
 * Tsagveri at 11:15, 14:30, and 17:00 (1 lari)
 * Tsemi at 11:00, 14:30, 17:00 (1 lari)
 * Tsikhisjvari at 14:00 and 17:00 (3.50 lari)
 * Zugdidi at 16:30 (15 lari)

Unverified:
 * Andeziti at 16:00 (3.50 lari)
 * Bakuriani at 09:00, 10:30, 12:15, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 (3 lari)
 * Chitakhevi hourly from 08:30 to 18:30 (0.8 lari)
 * Kvabiskhevi at 12:00 and 14:00 (1 lari)
 * Timotesubani at 10:30, 13:30, 17:00 (1.5 lari)

By train
Trains leave from two different train stations:
 * From, the main station in the centre of town, trains leave to Tbilisi at 07:05 and 16:45 (2 lari). From Tbilisi, trains to Borjomi leave at 06:40 and 16:15. The journey takes between 4 and 5 hours.
 * From, the 2nd station 2.5 km east of the centre, the slow train to Bakuriani leaves at 07:15 and 10:55. The train back leaves Bakuriani at 10:00 and 14:15. The train takes 3 hours, so if you make a day trip it's quicker to take the bus back to Borjomi. The train has been refurbished and all seats are now 2 lari which you pay during the train ride. To reach this station, take a taxi (3 lari) or the city bus (0.20 lari), or any bus (not marshrutka) that goes east to any of the next villages. It is possible to walk: cross the river at Borjomi Parki station, turn right, and then walk about 1.8 km (to Tori Street). Cross the river again, and the station is to your left. There are no facilities at the station, but there is a small supermarket very close.

Get around
The centre of Borjomi is small enough to walk.

Otherwise, there is a city bus going along the main road through Borjomi for 0.20 lari to accomplish longer distances, e.g. to the Borjomi Freight railway station (see below).

City bus no. 1 goes from Borjomi‘s central square all the way to Likani and back. It doesn’t leave from where the other city busses leave from but from a bus stop on the other side of the road about 100 m north.

City bus no. 3 goes from Borjomi’s city bus station at the small outdoor market all the way north into Kvibisi and finds it final stop there in its small center.

City bus no. 4 goes from Borjomi’s city bus station at the small outdoor market towards the south into Atskuri (at least that’s what I could read from its LED destination panel, needs confirmation).

See

 * The Borjomi Museum of Local Lore is located at Tsminda Nino 5. Admission 3 lari, tour in English or Hebrew 15 lari. Opening hours 10:00-19:00 Jun-Sep, to 17:00 Oct-May.

Do

 * Further Walks around the city – There are nice, excellently sign-posted walks from the centre worth doing. One goes to the natural pools and returns via the plateau. The second part is free from the crowd and the vendors present in the park (~3 hr). The other circular path climbs up to the ruins of a tower and further up to the top of Cross Mountain across from the city park. It is quite a climb, but in pleasant forest and with a great view (~2 hr).
 * Further Walks around the city – There are nice, excellently sign-posted walks from the centre worth doing. One goes to the natural pools and returns via the plateau. The second part is free from the crowd and the vendors present in the park (~3 hr). The other circular path climbs up to the ruins of a tower and further up to the top of Cross Mountain across from the city park. It is quite a climb, but in pleasant forest and with a great view (~2 hr).
 * Further Walks around the city – There are nice, excellently sign-posted walks from the centre worth doing. One goes to the natural pools and returns via the plateau. The second part is free from the crowd and the vendors present in the park (~3 hr). The other circular path climbs up to the ruins of a tower and further up to the top of Cross Mountain across from the city park. It is quite a climb, but in pleasant forest and with a great view (~2 hr).
 * Further Walks around the city – There are nice, excellently sign-posted walks from the centre worth doing. One goes to the natural pools and returns via the plateau. The second part is free from the crowd and the vendors present in the park (~3 hr). The other circular path climbs up to the ruins of a tower and further up to the top of Cross Mountain across from the city park. It is quite a climb, but in pleasant forest and with a great view (~2 hr).
 * Further Walks around the city – There are nice, excellently sign-posted walks from the centre worth doing. One goes to the natural pools and returns via the plateau. The second part is free from the crowd and the vendors present in the park (~3 hr). The other circular path climbs up to the ruins of a tower and further up to the top of Cross Mountain across from the city park. It is quite a climb, but in pleasant forest and with a great view (~2 hr).

Borjomi Kharagauli National Park

This park is Georgia's largest, covering about 8% of the country's territory. Its diversity of physical, geographical and especially climatic conditions set the stage for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Apart from the largely untouched nature of Borjomi-Kharagauli, there are numerous cultural monuments. In particular, there are two easily accessible churches, built in 9th century. There are 8 tourist trails in the national park. They vary in length, duration and complexity. Open from April until October.

Plan your trip by going to the administration of the office, which is a bit to the west of Borjomi (23 Meskheti st.), and get a free access permission and a map of the area with all the routes and shelters as well. There are well-marked hikes of 1, 2 or 3 days, through forests and meadows.

If you want to take a hike in the national park, get enough supplies, water, and some basic sleeping gear with you, as the cabins are very basic. You can rent sleeping bags for 5 lari a day, but no mattresses, and the shelter beds are wooden planks. You pay a small fee for staying in the shelter (10 lari) or camping (5 lari). The permit to the park is free, but make sure to have it on you since rangers might ask for it.

It is also possible to take a 1-day hike from Borjomi to Qvabiskhevi (or the other way around) and then hitchhike, take a local bus or taxi back to Borjomi. Or do multiple day hikes. That way you can even get to go to the higher parts (up to 2,600 m).

Buy
Near the entry to the city park, locals sell home-made jam from pine tree cones. It is claimed that the jam is useful when curing upper respiratory tract infections and is good for improving immunity.

Sleep
The tourist information can also arrange a guest house for you, and will organize for the host to pick you up at the tourist office. Otherwise, just walk along Pirosmani Street, north-west of the main road in the centre, and you will find plenty of options between 15 and 25 lari.

 * Borjomi Hostel - The dorm has no electricity. If you don't mind spending the night in a pitch black room with no heating or electricity, the rate is 15 lari a night.
 * Hotel Meidani - Very nice clean rooms with good heating, a nice on-suite with a hot shower, comfortable twin/double beds, tv, and wifi. Excellent location in the middle of Borjomi. 40 lari a night (Mar 2016).
 * Marina's Guesthouse: Cozy guesthouse near the center of town and a popular way station for expats, backpackers and tourists. Marina's son and daughter both speak fluent English.
 * Hotel Borjomi. Elegant, wooden Tsarist-era house located in central Borjomi, next to the Museum of Local Lore. Bed and breakfast available. Prices start from 70 lari. English and Russian spoken.
 * Hotel Borjomi. Elegant, wooden Tsarist-era house located in central Borjomi, next to the Museum of Local Lore. Bed and breakfast available. Prices start from 70 lari. English and Russian spoken.

Go next

 * Vardzia – The most famous cave monastery in Georgia besides David Gareja Monastery Complex, near the border with Turkey and Armenia.
 * The tourist information offers a 70 lari day trip, including a stop at the Green Monastery, the Akhaltsikhe fortress with a very nice museum (6 lari), and Khertvisi Fortress (5 lari). Ask for the natural sulphur spring and bath (45°C) to be included in the tour!

 * Akhaltsikhe – Popular for its beautiful and newly renovated fortress, but not one of the main attractions in Georgia.
 * Bakuriani – A famous ski resort, easily reach from Borjomi by an inexpensive sightseeing train (1-2 lari, 38 km), which leaves from Borjomi Freight railway station (#2) and takes 2 hours. The train leaves Borjomi every day at 07:15 and 10:55, and 10:00 and 14:15 from Bakuriani.
 * There are several direct bus connections to other places in Georgia, like Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and even Batumi. The timetable in the image gives an overview. The prices can be different while the departure times are quite stable even for years (according to the Marshrutka drivers).

title: Borjomi


text:
Borlänge

Borlänge is a town in the Dalarna province in Sweden. It has a population of roughly 51,000, slightly less than its close neighbor Falun.

Understand
Until the end of the 19th century, Borlänge was a small village. In the 1870s, the village became a stop on the new railway connecting Falun and Ludvika, and around the train station a service and industry city emerged. The most notable among the Borlänge industries were Kvarnveden paper mill and Domnarvets Jernverk steel mill. In 1900 Borlänge had grown to some 4,000 inhabitants. The city remained heavily industrialized until the 1970s, but today the majority of Borlänge's population work in the service sector. Borlänge's modernist city centre was voted the ugliest in Sweden in a 2018 popular poll.

Get in
The town is easy to reach. The road network is excellent and the only time to expect traffic jams is at 16:00 when most people head home from their work. There is also a railway station and an airport.

By train
Regional trains run hourly from Gävle on the coast via Sandviken, Storvik, Hofors and Falun. They continue from Borlänge to Kopparberg, change for Örebro. Others run from Mora. Buy tickets online from the Swedish railway company SJ.

By bus
Bus is in general the cheapest way of reaching Borlänge from other cities. Tickets can be found at the website of Swebus Express (Available in English).

Dalatrafik operate the regional bus network.

By car
Route 70 connects Borlänge with Mora and Enköping; route 50 with Söderhamn and Örebro; and route 71 with Sälen; and route 293 with Falun.

Get around
Getting around by car is easy and parking not too hard to find. The bus network covers the entire town and the villages outside. A ride inside the towns borders costs 30 kr for adults.

See

Do

 * Go skiing in the Romme Alpin. Modern ski facility some kilometres from Borlänge downtown.

Drink
Younger people go to S2, located opposite of Stationsgatan 1, or Flamingo for dancing. If you want a pub with the real local feel you should check out Engelska. It's kind of a dive bar and populated by a diverse bunch of people. Bolanche, above Stationsgatan 1, is the place for people in the ages 25-30 while Liljan, in the Liljan "galleria" on the park side, is the place for the more mature. If you like rock you may want to head to The Rock House, opposite Flamingo, although it's usually kind of deserted. And as always it's easiest to ask the locals were to find these places.

Stay safe
In an emergency always call 112.

Go next

 * Falun, the white-collar sibling and friendly rival of Borlänge, has a UNESCO-listed old copper mine and is 20 minutes away by car.
 * Siljansbygden, the area around beautiful Lake Siljan, is a very attractive part of Dalarna and well worth a visit.

title: Borlänge


text:
Bormes-les-Mimosas

Bormes-les-Mimosas is a scenic, small town in the French Riviera.

Understand
The town is protected under French preservation laws to retain most of it's medieval charm. Bormes is known for it's omnipresent flowers, the castle ruin and the church residing on top of the mountain on which the city also resides.

It is virtually merged with its neighbour — the town of Le Lavandou.

Nearby are many great (albeit densely populated during August) beaches, the Îles d'Hyères (aka Îles d'Or) islands and the famous Port-Cros national park. Port Cros is said to be one of the great places to dive in the Mediterranean.

Get in
The nearest airports are in Nice, Toulon and Marseilles.

There is no railroad near the town, but you can catch a connecting bus from Toulon (#7801, #8814) or even Saint-Raphaël (change at St. Tropez or Cogolin).

NB: The intercity buses are prone to be quite late, esp. in season, so make sure you've got plenty of time for making connecting changes.

By bus
There are a few services in a day at a Varlib minibus line #8816 which connects the Bormes centre ( – up the steep hill) with an intercity bus stop, then it's La Faviere district near the Port de Bormes and then with Le Lavandou ( – another intercity bus stop).

Do

 * Nice trekking routes around and up the mountain
 * Plethora of small but nice beaches, larger ones if you travel to nearby Saint-Tropez
 * Wine castles
 * Nearby natural caves
 * Hiking, try and find the tunnels inside the mountain

Eat

 * At the local pancake house or one of the city's street restaurants

Drink

 * There are some very nice cafés in town where you can enjoy a terrasse breezer with a good view of the Mediterranean sea.

Sleep
Sleep at the Grand Hotel, or at one of the privately rented apartments or houses in the town.

Go next

 * Îles d'Hyères
 * Saint-Tropez
 * Toulon

title: Bormes-les-Mimosas


text:
Bormio

Bormio is a town located in the Alps in northern Italy. It's a very beautiful old medieval town surrounded by the amazing landscape of Stelvio National Park. You can find good ski slopes and thermal baths.

Understand
Geographical notes The Bormio basin is large and bright; excavated over the centuries by glaciers and waterways and partly filled by floods, it is surrounded by mountains that to the north form a limestone and dolomite barrier whose main peak is the Reit (3,075 m). It protects from the Northern winds. This basin characterizes the area as it is entirely surrounded by river valleys. Four valleys converge: the Valdidentro which connects it to the Foscagno Pass, crossed by the Viola torrent, the Valfurva which connects it to the Gavia Pass, crossed by Frodolfo, the Braulio Valley which connects it to the Stelvio Pass, and the Valdisotto, in the which flows the river Adda towards the capital Sondrio. It is about 65 km from Sondrio, in a north-easterly direction.

Background

The Bormio area constitutes a unitary region whose physical characteristics have contributed to determining a single history, a common ethnographic imprint and similar living conditions. The first mention of Bormio in ancient documents is in a letter from Cassiodorus. During the Middle Ages Bormio was the seat of the homonymous county, including the territories that correspond to the municipalities of Valfurva, Valdidentro and Livigno. The Contado, despite the attempts to acquire the power of the bishops of Como and the bishopric of Chur, maintained its independence for about three centuries from the tenth to the thirteenth, when it came under the control of Como. In 1377, through the enactment of the "Magna Carta of Bormi's liberties", the municipality regained its autonomy and obtained important privileges. Power was entrusted to the Podestà of Bormio. He represented the superior authority and enjoyed directive and constricting power. Without him the municipal bodies could not act. Since then and for all the following two centuries, the Contado was at the center of the trade route that connected Venice with northern Europe. Thanks to its strategic position and the possibility of imposing duties exclusively on goods in transit there, it was able to develop economically. In 1400 the population was 5,000 inhabitants and there were 32 towers in the area. Prosperity lasted until 1487 when the town fell under the siege of the Grisons, which became more powerful following the agreement of the Three Leagues. From that moment the Sforza also granted the Republic of the Three Leagues the possibility of imposing duties like Bormio. The Contado, due to the plague and the political and military instability of the area, turned towards decline and in 1512 became a protectorate under the dominion of the Three Leagues. Worthy of note was Gian Giacomo Vismara, mayor from 1495 to 1499, Aulic Knight and Secret Advisor to the Duke of Milan. The same denomination of "Magnifica Terra" or "Magna Terra di Bormio et honorate valli", assigned in the past to the whole area, beyond the natural aspects, defines a territory limited in its autonomy, proud, since the most distant times, of his social life. With the arrival of Napoleon and the Italian campaign also ended the independence of the Contado di Bormio. In 1797, with the Valtellina, it was reunited with Lombardy and annexed to the Cisalpine Republic. Since then the same fate followed in Lombardy, first under the Habsburgs then in the Kingdom of Italy.

Get in
The nearest airports to Bormio are around 3 hrs away:
 * Milano-Linate
 * Milano-Malpensa
 * Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport
 * Brescia-Montichiari Airport
 * Bolzano Airport

By car
Bormio is located in Alta Valtellina, in the heart of the Alps, near the border with Switzerland. It is located about 200 km from Milan, 240 km from Zurich (CH) and 130 km from Bolzano.

If you want to reach Bormio by car, the following are the possible routes:

Roads open all year round:

• From Milan - highway 36 to Colico - state road 38 "dello Stelvio" - Sondrio - Tirano - Bormio

• From Brescia - Edolo - Aprica Pass - Tirano - Bormio

Roads open only in summer:

• From Val Camonica - Gavia Pass - Santa Caterina - Bormio

• From Trentino Alto Adige - Stelvio Pass - Bormio

To reach Bormio from Northern Europe:

Roads open all year round:

• From Landeck (A) towards St. Moritz (CH) to Zernez (CH) - towards Fuorn Pass - Munt La Schera Tunnel (toll) - Italian Customs at Passo del Gallo - Livigno - Eira Pass - Passo del Foscagno - Bormio.

• From Zurich (CH) - Landquart (CH) towards Klosters - Vereina Tunnel Zernez - towards Passo del Forno - Munt La Schera Tunnel (toll) - Italian Customs at Passo del Gallo - Livigno - Eira Pass - Passo del Foscagno - Bormio

• From Zurich (CH) - Landquart (CH) - Chur (CH) Thusis - Tiefencastel - Julier Pass - St. Moritz Bernina Pass - Tirano - Bormio.

Roads open only in summer:

• From Zurich (CH) - Landquart (CH) - Davos (CH) Flüela Pass - Zernez - direction Passo del Forno - Munt La Schera Tunnel (toll) - Italian Customs at Passo del Gallo - Livigno - Eira Pass - Passo del Foscagno - Bormio.

• From Zurich (CH) - Landquart (CH) - Chur (CH) Thusis - Tiefencastel - Julier Pass - St. Moritz Bernina Pass - Forcola - Livigno - Eira Pass - Foscagno Pass - Bormio.

• From Zurich (CH) - Landquart (CH) - Chur (CH) Thusis - Tiefencastel - Julier Pass - St. Moritz Bernina Pass - Tirano - Bormio

By bus
The Gianolini company provides buses from Milan

The Perego automobile offers connections between Bormio and Tirano, Livigno, Santa Caterina di Valfurva and many other Valtellina towns.

Do

 * Piazza Cavour, Bormio.jpg springs
 * The historic ones Bagni Vecchi or the modern ones either in Terme or in the luxury Bagni Nuovi or the free ones outdoor into a creek.
 * Outdoors activities.
 * Walking (in the forest or through the hundreds years historical buildings).
 * Hiking.
 * Trekking.
 * Skiing: alpine ski (worldwide known for the male FIS world cup downhill race), cross-country ski, ski touring.
 * Skating (local top worldwide athletes in short track ice skating competitions).
 * Mountain climbing (historically top mountain climbers, e.g. also members of the first and following K2 expeditions).
 * Biking (flat areas or uphill and downhill, mountain biking, downhill mountain biking).
 * Hunting mushrooms and blueberries.
 * Riding horses.
 * Enjoy local culture.
 * Eating local food and drinking local wines, liquors and water.
 * Shopping in the historical center.
 * Enjoying historical mountain art, architecture and handicraft.
 * Events.
 * Watching some Italian Basketball teams and soccer teams summer pre-season training.
 * Relaxing (slow down!).

Eat

 * Bresaola
 * Pizzoccheri
 * Sciatt.
 * Polenta taragna
 * Formaggi e salumi locali (local cheese and cold cuts).
 * Porcini e finferli (porcini and finferli mushrooms).

Drink

 * Vini rossi locali della Valtellina (Local red wines from Valtellina Valley).
 * Amari locali (local after dinner liquors).
 * Local bottled water (a leader in bottled water in Italy, water from a local glacier).

Go next

 * Livigno
 * Tirano
 * Milan

title: Bormio


text:
Borneo

Borneo is the third largest non-continental island in the world (after Greenland and New Guinea). The island is located in Southeast Asia, straddling the equator. It's sparsely populated and famous for ancient rainforests filled with wildlife, including several primates and various rare and endangered species. The island also has extensive caves and rivers. In Indonesian, the term Kalimantan is used to refer to the entire island of Borneo, not just the Indonesian-controlled part as in Malay and English.

It is divided into three parts, administered by separate countries:

Some islands that are part of the Philippines — Palawan and the Sulu Islands — are geographically close to Sabah, and have some things in common with Borneo in flora, fauna, history and culture.

Get in
The island's main airports by passenger traffic are Pontianak, Banjarbaru , and Balikpapan in Indonesia and Kota Kinabalu  and Kuching  in Malaysia.

title: Borneo


text:
Bornholm

Bornholm is Denmark's crown jewel. The "Pearl of the Baltic" has sandy beaches on the south of the island which are renowned for their Mediterranean light and feel. Its forests impart a more rugged feel than found elsewhere in densely-populated Denmark. Though practically unknown to most English speakers, this island of light is a favourite vacation spot for Scandinavians, Germans, and Poles. Its position in the middle of the Baltic (it is closer to Sweden, Poland and Germany than to rest of Denmark) gives both a secluded, yet international feel.

Bornholm is in the Baltic Sea 37 km south of Sweden. The island is roughly 588 km² and has 158 km of coastline. Bornholm is widely known for its smoked herring, high quality arts and crafts and its beautiful nature.

Regions
As of 2003 Bornholm's five regions assembled into one administrative and political unit called Bornholms Regionskommune. In 2007, Bornholm was joined with the Capital Region (Hovedstadenregionen), meaning that Bornholm is now administratively fused with Copenhagen.

Cities

 * — two romantic and pretty towns that have hundreds of old fashioned half-timbered houses
 * — famous for its gorgeous sunrises
 * (or Nexø)
 * — the largest city, with approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
 * (or Nexø)
 * — the largest city, with approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
 * — the largest city, with approximately 10,000 inhabitants.

Other destinations

 * — the third largest Danish forest
 * — small group of islands

History
Bornholm has a long history as a military and political centre in the Baltic ocean. The history goes back to the famous Vikings. Numerous findings at southern Bornholm indicate that Bornholm was a well established trading point. Poland, Sweden and Germany are all within 100 km. That made Bornholm attractive for the Danish king, the archbishop of Lund and the city of Lübeck during medieval times. Catholics who fasted were only allowed to eat fish and other similar things, so that in the 13th century herring was the main income source on Bornholm.

Medieval
The European plague struck Bornholm in the middle of the 14th century and halved the population. It was also during this time that Hammershus was constructed, as well as the famous 'round churches'. From 1525 to 1576 Bornholm was pawned to Lübeck in payment for debts the Danish king Frederik I incurred as a result of Lübeck's support for his rebellion against the Swedish King Christian II. The people of Bornholm were suppressed with high taxes and forced labour. They tried to break free but the revolt was quashed in the battle of Ugleenge.

Early modern
A battle between Denmark and Sweden in 1645 led to Swedish control over the island, but it was brief - they left again the same year. In the Roskilde Peace of 1658, Bornholm, Skåne, Halland and Blekinge were given to Sweden. Again the people were forced to pay high taxes to oppressive forces. The Danish king advised the people of Bornholm to fight back. In 1658 the Swedish commander of Bornholm was killed in Rønne, and the people of Bornholm freed themselves from years of foreign control. Bornholm was given to the Danish king as 'his island'. Jens Kofoed, Poul Anker, Peder Olsen and Villum Clausen became champions of liberty. The same four men have, in modern times, given their names to the ferries from Bornholmstrafikken.

World War II 1940-1946
Bornholm was Danish until World War II, when it was occupied by the Nazis along with the rest of Denmark. The island was liberated by the Soviets in 1945, but against the backdrop of the emerging Cold War, they refused to withdraw until they were given some special privileges.

The Cold War 1946-1989
Bornholm was NATO's fist towards the east, but a Soviet declaration after World War II stated that the placement of "foreign soldiers" (NATO) on Bornholm wasn't allowed. So, it was only Danish soldiers who were allowed duty at Bornholm. Because they were able to listen to Soviet, Polish and East German military radio transmissions from a location much further to the east than any other NATO members, enabling military movements deep within the Soviet Union to be monitored, Bornholm contributed significantly NATO intelligence was very highly valued. In 2017, Denmark's Defence Intelligence Service decided to build a listening tower near Østermarie, almost the size of the Statue of Liberty, to intercept radio communications across the Baltic Sea and in parts of Russia.

Industry
As in other places in the world, Bornholm felt the industrial revolution during the 19th century, and in 1843 its Hasle klinker (clinker) was established. It was one of Bornhom's biggest export ventures since the Middle Ages herring boom. Bornholm is made of granite which has been quarried for centuries.

Bornholmstrafikken (formerly known as ‘Dampskibsselskabet af 1866’ or the Steamship Company of 1866) was founded in 1866 and is still the regular route to and from Bornholm.

Bornholm's main income source has, as an island, always been the sea which surrounds it, and in the 1970s & 1980s the fishermen of the island were so successful that many of them became really wealthy. This rampant overfishing resulted in a rapid decline in fish population which, by the early 1990s, put many fishermen out of work. This created flow-on effects because each fisherman created six on-shore jobs in related industries, resulting in economic decline.

Tourism
Today Bornholm is a popular travel destination for tourists from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Poland and the rest of Denmark, who are a common sight in the summertime.

Talk
As Bornholm has many tourists each year, most people speak English, German or Swedish, the exception being most of the older population.

Almost all tourism brochures are to be found in English, German, Polish and a Scandinavian language.

By plane
Bornholm Airport near Rønne. In the summer season there are buses from the airport.

All international flights operate on a summer-only schedule:
 * Widerøe from Oslo.
 * Spies from Mallorca and Antalya.

Domestic flights:
 * Danish Air Transport - from Copenhagen (up to six return trips daily)

By car
As Bornholm is an island, you must take one of the various ferries (see below). The fare for a car is usually a lot higher than for pedestrians.

By ferry
These ferries take cars and passengers.

International ferries:
 * Bornholmslinjen Ystad – Rønne, daily year around.
 * Bornholmslinjen Sassnitz – Rønne, daily during summer, few times per week otherwise.
 * Bornholmexpress Allinge-Sandvig – Simrishamn only during the summer.
 * Kołobrzeska Żegluga Pasażerska Kołobrzeg – Neksø ferry from April till October.
 * Polferries Sassnitz – Rønne ferry from April till October.

Domestic ferries:
 * Bornholmslinjen Rønne – Køge, daily year around.

By ferry and train

 * DSB sells combined train and ferry tickets Copenhagen – Malmö Hyllie – Ystad – Rønne. This journey requires a change at Malmö Hyllie station. There is a very short walk between the train and ferry in Ystad.

Get around
You can get to the island by ferry or airplane, but the island also provides excellent opportunities for arriving by private boat. It's easy getting around either by car, bus or bicycle.

By taxi
You can hail a taxi on the street, or call for one to come pick you up at a specific address. A taxi can be ordered at +45 59 95 23 01.

The charge for a trip from the airport to Rønne is approximately €7, and a trip from Rønne to Nexø (longest distance) is €50.

By bus
There are 9 bus lines connecting cities and attractions. Some stops are designed for getting off, walking a scenic route and getting on a bus at the next stop.

Outside the cities there are not many bus stops. You just ask the bus driver to stop where you want to get off. And you wave your hand to stop a bus anywhere where the road does not have solid white lines (so that the bus will not block the traffic to let you on). At night use a flashlight or a mobile phone to make your gesture visible to the driver.

The BAT 24-hour ticket at 150 kr can be a good deal if you intend to make several trips in one day and don't want to worry about the rates and zones.

By bike
The easiest way to explore Bornholm is by bike, the longest distance on the island is 36 km. There are excellent biking facilities all over Bornholm.

It is easy to rent a bike at Bornholm and the charge varies from place to place but expect about €10 for a day and €20 for a whole week.

See

 * Svaneke is a very well preserved town on the most eastern point of the island, near Listed. Svaneke boasts the most hours of sunlight in all of Northern Europe. Known as one of the prettiest and best preserved towns on the island it is also well known for its many artists and galleries, and its lively market.
 * Round churches
 * The old part of Rønne
 * The Bornholms Kunstmuseum near Gudhjem is the largest art collection on Bornholm. The museum is most famous for its fantastic architecture and amazing location on the seaside.
 * Hammershus — A large ruin at the northernmost point of the island near Allinge-Sandvig.
 * The Medieval Centre of Bornholm is a small rebuilt city from the medieval times near Gudhjem.

Do

 * Joboland is an amusement park near Listed with a small water park, animals and rides.

Forests

 * Almindingen — The third largest forest in Denmark.
 * Paradisbakkerne
 * Rytsker Højlyng — Home of 'Rokkestenen' a massive rock approx. 35 tonnes.
 * Slotslyngen — Wild nature near Hammershus (see Allinge-Sandvig)

Beaches

 * Dueodde — The sand is ultra-fine and inviting. The water is clear and clean with lots sand bars, so there is both shallow and deep water close to the shore. The sand is white and if it were not for the pine trees in the distance, one would believe to be in the tropics. It's near Snogebæk.
 * Balka — Balka is the most popular beach on Bornholm. It is several kilometres long and has very fine sand and shallow water.
 * Sandvig — The best beach on Bornholm's northern coastline. Very popular with locals and with a large motorhome/caravan site for tourists right next door.
 * Antoinette — A beach north of Rønne, plenty space to be yourself and enjoy the weather and ocean.
 * Hullehavn — A small beach on the outskirts of Svaneke, it's incorporated into the cliffs and even has a divingboard. The beach has camping on one side of it and the lighthouse on the other. Hullehavn is known for how it's easy-going atmosphere. Both locals and tourists enjoy Hullehavn where people are very laid back and sociable; age and nationality means nothing. There is a there is a little bar/cafe/ice-cream kiosk with tables and chairs right on the beach. There are often concerts and at the cafe and djs and dancing.

Eat

 * Smoked herrings are a specialty of the island. You can get them at smokehouses in seaside towns, such as Arnager, Gudhjem or Snogebæk, where they also sell other fish and seafood delicacies.
 * Sol over Gudhjem — Smoked herring on rye bread with a raw egg yolk on top.
 * Marinated herrings — Marinated herring served on buttered rye bread with hard-boiled egg and onions is a traditional food of Denmark and is frankly unmissable. Try the curry-marinade.
 * Other seafood such as scrimps, salmon, sole and eel.
 * Rye crackers made by Johannes Dam in Aakirkeby
 * A variety of local cheeses.
 * Smokehouses in the larger towns such as Allinge or Hasle often have high quality seafood buffets available for diners. Very popular with locals and tourists alike. Expect to pay around €20-25 per person excluding drinks. Seafood buffets can get busy during high season but should definitely be a must-try for visitors to Bornholm.

Buy
Bornholm is famous for its many high quality crafts such as blown glass and textiles. Visit the different shops and exhibits.

 * Glass art — There are many small glass workshops around Bornholm.
 * Ceramics
 * Granite

title: Bornholm


text:
Borobudur

Borobudur is a Buddhist stupa and temple complex in Central Java dating from the 8th century, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of world's truly great ancient monuments, the single largest Buddhist structure anywhere on earth, and few who visit fail to be taken by both the scale of place, and the remarkable attention to detail that went into the construction. Set as it is in the heart of the verdant Kedu Plain, the backdrop of mighty active volcanoes only enhances the sense of awe and drama.

History
There is no definite written record of who built Borobudur or why it was built. It was likely founded as a religious site in the 8th century at the peak of the Sailendra dynasty in central Java. The construction is thought to have taken a period of 75 years, and completed in about 825 AD.

The details of Hinduism and Buddhism from this period in Java's history can be baffling for visitors. Together with the records of many royal marriages between Hindu and Buddhist nobles, many Hindu and Buddhist monuments were constructed in the region at this time. Borobudur and the nearby Hindu Prambanan temple complex were more or less contemporaneous.

A common thread of stories suggest that Borobudur lay abandoned and hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and thick jungle growth. Popular theories are that the local population just became disinterested when there were mass conversions to Islam in the 15th century, or they were simply driven away by a large volcanic eruption. It was never forgotten entirely though, with local folklore ensuring that stories of the great monument lived on.

Rediscovery
Following the Anglo-Dutch Java War, Java was briefly under British administration from 1811 to 1816. The British governor was Thomas Stamford Raffles (the founder of Singapore), and he took a great practical and academic interest in the history of the mystical island of Java. On a tour to Semarang in 1814, he was informed about a huge ‘lost’ monument deep in the jungles near Yogyakarta, and he sent a Dutch engineer to investigate. It took two months to clear the jungle and partially reveal the amazing monument, but it was not until 1885 that the complex was unearthed in its magnificent entirety. Raffles also presided over the re-discovery of nearby Prambanan, and it is somewhat ironic that the very brief British rule of Java led to the uncovering of both these ancient monuments.

Appreciation and protection was surprisingly slow to develop, and Borobudur became the domain of unscrupulous souvenir hunters. Modern-day archaeologists speculate that this was due to the European obsession with Ancient Egypt at the time — Borobudur was just too remote and too far away to get the attention it undoubtedly deserved. There was even a Dutch proposal to dismantle the monument and scatter it piece-by-piece to museums around the world.

Thankfully, good sense prevailed and by the end of the 19th century the site was left largely intact and as importantly, extensively photographed, and a five year restoration programme was undertaken in 1907.

Modern day Borobudur
In 1956 UNESCO began an assessment process for the full scale restoration of the monument. Finally in 1968, a major plan to restore Borobudur was created, and this huge project involved a complete overhaul of the monument up until 1983. The unsteady foundations were stabilised, everything was meticulously cleaned and a major drainage system installed. After the works were finished, UNESCO formally listed Borobudur as a World Heritage Site in 1991. Since then, the profile of Borobudur has increased enormously, and it is now a major international tourist attraction. Its statues, reliefs and stupas have spawned millions of replicas which adorn properties worldwide.

This huge popularity has its downsides. Deliberate vandalism and general wear and tear are of great concern for the future integrity of the monument.

As well as being the most popular tourist attraction in modern day Indonesia, Borobudur has resumed its role as an important place of worship and pilgrimage for Indonesian Buddhists. Visitors should be understanding and respectful of this, especially during major Buddhist holiday periods.

The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake which badly damaged nearby Prambanan, left Borobudur unscathed.

The 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi
Borobudur was heavily affected by the eruption of Mount Merapi in October and November 2010. Volcanic ash from Merapi fell on the temple complex, which is approximately 28 km (17.5 mi) west-southwest of the crater. During the strong eruption of 3–5 November for example, a layer of ash up to 2.5 cm (1 in) thick fell onto the temple. This also killed nearby vegetation. Experts feared that the acidic ash might severely damage the historic site.

UNESCO donated US$3 million as a part of rehabilitation costs to rid the temple's stones of volcanic sediment, then to plant trees to stabilise temperatures, and finally to support the living conditions of local residents. More than 55,000 stone blocks from the temple structure had to be dismantled to enable restoration of the drainage system, which had been clogged by slurry after rains.

Orientation
Borobudur lies in the Kedu Plain - a very fertile volcanic plain between the twin volcanoes of Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west, and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi to the east.

Visit time
Borobudur is not only a favorite of foreign tourists, but also domestic tourists, mainly students of all ages, usually in May and June. If you are planning a visit, try not to visit during school holiday season, it is worth investigating those dates. Another date in the Indonesian calendar to consider is that of Idul Fitri and up to a week after.

By plane
The nearest larger airports are Yogyakarta's Adisucipto International Airport and Solo's Adisumarmo International Airport. Both are well connected domestically, and also offer some international connections to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia for example flies from Singapore to Yogyakarta daily.

It is possible, if you rush a bit, to visit Borobudur on a day trip from Bali or Jakarta. You can also fly direct to Semarang's Achmad Yani International Airport with Air Asia from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and make your way to Borobudur from there (2–3 hours by road).

By bus
DAMRI runs bus service in the early morning and early afternoon from the central Yogyakarta bus station, near the south end of Malioboro (90 min, Rp 20,000). The schedule is posted on the @damriindonesia Instagram account, under the Yogyakarta story.

To get from or to the Hindu temples at Prambanan, take a Yogyakarta bus and disembark at Jombor Terminal (90 min, Rp 15,000 for foreigners, Rp 7,000 for Indonesians). From Jombor take TransJogya route 2B to Prambanan (45-60 min, Rp 3,000). It will require 3 bus changes: 2B from Jombor to Terminal Condong, 3B from Terminal Condong to Maguwo (Jl. Solo) and 1A/B from Maguwo to Prambanan.

Buses run regularly from Magelang to Borobudur via Muntilan and are widely advertised there. The journey time is about 1 hour.

By minibus
Travel agents in Yogyakarta sell door-to-door minibus tour packages for around Rp 75,000. This is a good deal and a straightforward way to reach the monument, although some operators may stop off at batik and silver factories along the route.

By car
Borobudur is about 40 minutes north of Yogyakarta by car. Most of the route is on a well-maintained (for Indonesia) four-lane (in many places) highway, and there are frequent bus services (see above). A taxi from central Yogyakarta to Borobudur costs around Rp 200,000, and from Yogyakarta airport about Rp 225,000.

By train
The nearest stations are in Yogyakarta which is the major rail hub of Central Java. Connections are frequent from major cities in the west such as Jakarta and Bandung, and in the east such as Surabaya. From the main Tugu station, the only direct options to Borobudur are taxi or private bus transfer. The cheapest option is to take a local minibus (if available) or motorbike taxi (15 KRp) to Jombor bus terminal, where local buses depart regularly for Borobodur (20 KRp).

Get around
The only practical means of getting around Borobudur is on foot. A toy train of limited practical use shuttles around the temple, and between the museum and entrance gate for Rp 5,000.

If you are staying in the area, most local hotels and guesthouses will rent bicycles for about Rp 30,000-50,000 per day. This is a good way of exploring the other sights and local villages around Borobudur.

To get out go to the main entrance. Be wary of the Exit signs as they lead to a maze of souvenir stalls.

Fees and permits
The site is open from 06:00 to 17:00, every day except Monday.

The standard entry ticket only includes the grounds surrounding the temple, and no longer includes access inside or to the top. As of April 2024, it costs:
 * $25 (~Rp 400,000) for adult non-Indonesians
 * $15 (~Rp 240,000) for non-Indonesians aged 3-10
 * $15 (~Rp 240,000) for non-Indonesian registered students (letter of introduction from university or college is required)
 * Rp 50,000 for adult Indonesians
 * Rp 25,000 for Indonesians aged 3-10
 * Rp 25,000 for Indonesians aged 3-10

Entering the temple requires a Temple Structure Ticket, which includes a 1 hour guided tour (English available) that goes inside and up to the near-top of the temple (Top restricted to buddhist ceremonies). Only 150 tickets per hour are made available for the most-visited attraction in Java, so book ahead. Reservations can be made 7 days in advance from the official site https://ticketcandi.borobudurpark.com/en/tickets. The site may list multiple tours at the same price; the specific theme of the tour doesn't seem to matter. Online Mandala and Mahakarya type tickets are same.
 * Rp 455,000 for adult non-Indonesians. (Apr-2024)
 * Rp 305,000 for non-Indonesians aged 3-10
 * Rp 120,000 for adult Indonesians
 * Rp 75,000 for Indonesians aged 3-10
 * Rp 17,000 online service fee

Combination tickets for Borobodur, and other local sites (Prambanan, Ramayana, Mendut, Ratu Boko, and Pawon) are available. Borobodur & Prambanan is 720,000 for foreigners (Apr 2024). The combination ticket doesn't combine with the Temple Structure tour or other temples like Ratu Boko.

Visitors are not required to wear a sarong whilst visiting the temple, but some footwear is prohibited to protect the temple from erosion. Cheap sandals are provided for the Temple Structure tour and left to visitors after tour.

The main site is approached through a large open and pleasant park inside the complex. The exit is constrained through a souvenirs stalls path.

See

 * The platform or foot at the base of the structure, which was clearly post the original construction and hides some reliefs, is of uncertain provenance and function. The main theories are that the platform was added to censor reliefs depicting earthly desires or — rather more likely — to buttress the subsiding structure and prevent it from collapsing. A section of the platform has been excavated at the southeast corner, showcasing some of the hidden reliefs underneath.
 * The bulk of the structure consists of six square terraces connected by steep staircases. Each terrace has reliefs in two layers on both sides, recounting the story of the Buddha's past lives and his enlightenment.

 * Above the square terraces, the structure opens up to reveal the final three circular terraces. Comparatively plain and unadorned, there are no more reliefs here just seventy two lattice work stupas — domes housing half-hidden Buddha statues (many headless, some lost entirely). A bombing some years ago destroyed nine of them, but they have been well restored.
 * The peak of the structure is a central stupa. The two chambers inside the stupa are empty, and it is unclear whether they were empty from the beginning as a representation of nirvana, or whether they originally contained statues which were looted or lost. The site museum contains what might be a missing statue.

The monument's three divisions (the square terraces and central stupa at the peak are regarded as one division) symbolise the three realms of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kamadhatu (the world of desires), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the formless world).

There are six different postures of Buddha's statue from the bottom level to the top. These are contact with earth, giving and helping, meditation, fearlesness, teach and learn and turning the wheel of dharma.

The wall reliefs
You can think of Borobudur as a very large teaching graphic recounting the life story of the Buddha, his teachings and his progress towards Nirvana.

In summary, the 2,760 reliefs tell four key sets of stories in the form of carved illustrations and Sanskrit inscriptions:

 * The law of karma or Karmavibhangga. These are mostly hidden by the post-original construction masking at the foot of the monument. The reliefs tell stories and give examples of the nature of karma with depictions of both praiseworthy (including co-operative working practices and planned parenthood) and blameworthy (including torture, rape and theft) activities. The masking was disassembled in 1890 before being painstakingly rebuilt, and photographs were taken of the reliefs at this time. These photographs are displayed in the Borobudur Museum.
 * The birth of Buddha or Lalitavistara. Before the story starts, there are 27 panels showing preparations for the final earthly incarnation. The story then begins with the descent of the Lord Buddha from heaven, and continues until his first earthly sermon as Prince Siddhartha.
 * The Jatakas and avadanas. Jatakas are stories about the Buddha before he was born as Prince Siddhartha. Avadanas are similar to jatakas, but the main figure is not Buddha himself. Both are depicted in the same series of reliefs.
 * The journeys of Sudhana searching for ultimate truth or Gandavyuha. This is the story told in the final chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra about Sudhana's tireless wandering in search of the highest perfect wisdom.

Sunrise
Normally around 5h30, to best see sunrise you have to go to a little hill (see ) near by Manohara Hotel, be aware of the people that will try to guide you there if you don't know the way (if you agree, you can pay them no more than Rp. 10,000). The entrance to the viewpoint is 15,000rp for locals and 30,000 for foreigners. Normally by motorbike it takes 1 hr 15 min-1 hr 30 min from Yogyakarta.

However, the Manohara Hotel (see Sleep) runs a daily Borobudur Sunrise Tour for Rp 320,000 for foreigners (Rp 185,000 if you are a hotel guest) and Rp 220,000 for Indonesians, which gets you a flashlight and a lift up to the temple gate at 04:30. This is in time to see the sunrise, and to explore for an hour and a half before the hordes arrive. This is well worth the money. The sun rises in the same direction as the entrance you used to gain access to the temple.

The Borobudur Museum
There are two museums in Borobudur Archaeological Park, the Karmawibhanga Museum and the Samudraraksa Museum. These museums are housed inside the park just a few hundred metres to the north of the temple. These museum ticket are already included within the Borobudur entrance ticket, so visitor are free to enter the museum. The museum is open daily 06:00-18:00 and entry is included with the main Borobudur ticket.

Around Borobudur
Between Yogyakarta and Magelang lies the volcanic Kedu Plain. This was clearly an important area in pre-10th century Javanese history as it contains a whole host of ruins (both Buddhist and Hindu) dating from the same era as Borobudur, and easily reached from there. If you have a car, the most accessible of these together make an interesting use of the late part of the day on the way back to Yogyakarta after you have seen Borobudur. Alternatively, if you are staying in the Borobudur area, rent a bicycle and explore these temples together with the verdant local countryside.

A combined ticket for entrance to both Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon costs Rp 3500. You should be able to visit any of these in the hours of daylight.

Do
If you are still at Borobudur in the late afternoon, return to the top level for sunset. It is often very quiet at this time, and the sunset behind the mountains to the west is scenic.

Festivals

 * On Waisak, Buddha's birthday (held on the night of the full moon in May), an elaborate and colourful multi-day Buddhist festival is held at Borobudur, culminating in a candle-lit procession from Candi Mendut to Borobudur. If you are lucky enough to be visiting at this time, the procession is magical event to witness. At other times, just walking the Waisak procession route from Borobudur to Candi Mendut (or vice versa) is an excellent experience.

 * Every June, the park authority arranges a performance of the Mahakarya Borobudur. This ballet uses traditional Javanese dance to tell the story of the conception and construction of the temple. The event takes place at the Aksobya open theatre against the backdrop of Borobudur, and is a lavish production. Tickets Rp 300,000-800,000.

Buy
Persistent touts hassle tourists on the approaches to the temple but are usually kept away from the temple itself. Be firm and polite about your intentions and they will soon get the message. Be careful when you exit the temple as there are confusing signs pointing to exit gates which lead you through a maze of stalls. If you want to avoid the maze of handicraft stall, do not turn left and follow the nearest exit sign, just move straight forward to the exit located nearest to the entrance.

If you do intend to buy some souvenirs here then make sure your bargaining skills are at their best. Pedlars sell small statues that they claim are carved from lava stone, but most are cast coloured cement. Identifying genuine lava stone is easy enough as the stone is quite light for its size compared to the weightier concrete. Nonetheless, if a concrete Buddha head will suffice you should not pay more than Rp 20,000. Their first offer is around Rp 150,000. Just tell them, that you already bought for Rp 20,000 and they will give you this price. An authentic lava stone version carved by a skilled craftsman will cost, and be worth, considerably more.

Should you be in need of cash, there is a Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) ATM close to the main park entrance.

Muntilan
Muntilan is a market town on the main route from Yogyakarta to Magelang. When leaving Borobudure, Muntilan is 13–14 km (8.5 mi) back towards Yogyakarta on the main road (Jalan Magelang).

It is also where transport for Borobudur turns off the main road, and it has developed as a leading manufacturing centre of carved stone Borobudur replicas.

As a typical market town in Central Java, it is worth walking along the main street to have a sense of where tourism has not taken over completely, as most tourists rush through, a significant number of adjacent villages and areas treat this as their market town, and it is possible to see the businesses and people who rely on Javanese custom, rather than tourist. In most cases though, the food stores will still provide tourist food, rather than what the local eats, you would need a Javanese or Indonesian friend or guide to specify you want to eat local.

Muntilan is also a significant roman catholic heritage site, being the location of the Van Lith mission in the nineteenth century, it is also the place where senior members of the Jesuits who served in Yogyakarta and Central Java are buried.

During the second world war, Muntilan was the site of a Japanese prisoners camp.

While very few tourists ever consider the back roads to the western slopes of Merapi, most roads that lead up to the western and north western slopes, and village area, leave from Muntilan. Also if you are using 'local' transport rather than Borobudur specific transport, the stopping place at the markets is where you change transport. It is possible to catch Magelang and Semarang bound buses at this point as well.

If you are thinking of buying a stone Buddha, stupa or wall relief, this could be your port of call.

Eat and drink
The bus station area is home to a multitude of hawker stalls selling standard Indonesian street food and all manner of drinks. Be aware that most close by 17:00.

Otherwise the only dining options are in hotels. Manohara Restaurant, inside the grounds of the hotel of the same name, serves up standard Indonesian fare while offering beautiful views of Borobudur. Mains from about Rp 25,000. Amanjiwo has truly spectacular food at even more spectacular prices.

Sleep
The vast majority of visitors stay in Yogyakarta and a few in Magelang. It is though well worth spending the night at Borobudur as this will give you a chance the following morning to get to the temples before the crowds arrive. Indeed, if you really want to explore and understand this magnificent monument, over-nighting in the immediate area is vital.

Budget
There are a few losmen (guesthouses) and basic hotels in the village of Borobudur just south of the park entrance. Owing to the site's popularity with tourists prices are, by Indonesian standards, somewhat inflated for what you get.

Respect
Be nice to the locals. Seriously. There is a lot written in travel guides about the pushy nature of the vendors at Borobudur. And they can be a little annoying it must be said. But a few friendly no's and keeping on walking usually does the job.

Yogyakarta is a student town with many colleges and universities, and you will often find many students at Borobudur who are keen to be friendly with you. Take this how it is meant; they are genuinely friendly, and rightly very proud of their heritage and keen to talk to you about it.

To avoid the largest crowds, skip weekends when large numbers of domestic tourists visit, along with the occasional school trip of students, sent by their teachers to practice their English on overseas visitors. Alternatively, visit as early as you can in the morning.

If you look like a typical Westerner, you'll become a "tourist attraction" to school students instead of the temple itself. Expect to be filmed or audio recorded as students ask you all sorts of harmless questions - then they will ask for a photo with you. They are highly appreciate any kind of your interaction with them.

Connect
There is a public telephone office (Wartel) on Jl Pramudyawardani opposite the main market, and also a post office adjacent.

The telephone area code for Borobudur is the same as Yogyakarta - 0274

Go next

 * The Hindu temples of Prambanan, about an hour away by car, make the perfect complement to Borobudur.
 * The cultural splendour of Yogyakarta is about 90 minutes by bus.
 * The Dieng Plateau is a volcanic area in the highlands of Central Java with the oldest standing temples in Indonesia, pre-dating Borobudur by some 100 years. About a 90 minute drive to the northwest.
 * If you want to see a serious active volcano, Mount Merapi is about a 2 hour drive to the east.

However if you are based in Yogyakarta or other locations and not driving yourself, there are 'tours' or 'climbing' ventures, that in most cases leave from Yogyakarta, and drive to Selo (located in the valley between Merbabu and Merapi) which is a traditional location to walk to the top of Merapi in the middle of the night for the dawn views.

title: Borobudur


text:
Borovets

Borovets is a ski and mountain resort in Central Western Bulgaria, on the slopes of the Rila mountain range close to the town of Samokov. It's one of Bulgaria's most popular ski resorts and one of the starting points for hiking to Musala, the highest peak in Rila, Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula.

Get in
As the crow flies, Borovets is about south from the capital Sofia and  west from the second largest city, Plovdiv, but the mountainous terrain increases road distance. The town of Samokov, the centre of the local municipality (obshtina) is in the valley below, to the north.

Sofia, the closest airport, is served by a number of budget airlines including Wizz Air and Easyjet among others. If booked early, you can pick up a really cheap deal. Also, British Airways and Bulgaria Air can offer extremely good deals and provide more comfort. Lufthansa have several daily flights to Sofia, with connections from many countries through Munich Airport or Frankfurt Airport. Most hotels are fully prepared to provide transfer services with booking.

Holidays to this area can also be arranged via tour operators with package holidays available from a variety of companies including Crystal, First Choice and Balkan Holidays.

By bus
If you are in Sofia, independent travel by bus is the cheapest option, but not very easy or comfortable for foreigners because of the first step - getting from Sofia to Samokov by bus. Samokov and Borovets are connected by a shuttle bus (about 20 min) that runs at least once an hour between 08:00 and 18:00 from Samokov's Bus Station. In Borovets, it stops in front of Hotel Samokov.

See
Also make sure to check out the sights in Samokov.

Skiing and snowboarding
The ski area in Borovets is split in two; a smaller area with runs down into the main resort is serviced by 2 chairlifts and a number of drag tows and consists of nursery slopes; a couple of short black runs; 1 long blue run and a number of short reds. The second ski area is accessible via a Gondola and is much larger with a number of long blue and red runs. Black slopes are available at this resort but it must be noted that despite the high quality of the red and black runs this resort is considered to be mainly for beginners and intermediates. The resort has several good ski schools and a wide range of apres-ski activities.

Snowboarders share the same area as the general skiers and have a wide range of slopes available to them. Borovets is also the only resort in Bulgaria to offer cross-country skiing (???).

Hiking
BGMountains.org map zoomed in on Borovets; downloadable Garmin maps with place names in Latin letters.

Eat
Most restaurants on the pistes are relatively expensive (by local standards) and average quality. Some however do offer very good food.
 * La Bomba a local grill restaurant, with tasty and reasonably priced food. Try pork on the spit roast and the local bread, baked with butter and salt.
 * The Blue Steak House/restaurant in the center of the town, great steak and other dishes.
 * The Blue Steak House/restaurant in the center of the town, great steak and other dishes.

Drink
There are many bars and restaurants in the resort where you and eat and drink to excess until the early hours.

 * The Golden Chicken aka Bobby's Bar A place to grab a beer and talk about a day on the slopes. Predominantly English speaking. Everybody seems to be friendly and up for a chat so if you're after a good social experience or any info on the area this is a place to start. Has a couple of quiet periods between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and about 16:00 when people start to roll in off the slopes.

Go next

 * Samokov - another major tourist center for winter sports
 * Semkovo - go skiing

title: Borovets