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Yarmouth (Nova Scotia)

Yarmouth is a town of 6,500 people (2016) on the western tip of Nova Scotia, Canada. The town is known for the Cape Frochu Lighthouse and the nearby area boasts traditional Anglo-Scottish and Acadian French culture. It also makes a good base for exploring the inland wilderness areas, which feature over 365 lakes and several major rivers.

Understand
Long connected to fishing due to its proximity to Georges Bank, the town is in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and as a result receives Canada's largest lobster landings each year.

History
It was inhabited by the Mi'kmaq First Nations (Indigenous) people, who called it Keespongwitk", meaning "Land's End" due to its geographic isolation being at the southwestern tip of the Nova Scotia peninsula.

The region may have possibly been visited by Leif Ericson. An object known as the Yarmouth Runic Stone was found at the nearby village of Overton in 1812. It was interpreted by some to have been carved by Ericson, while others feel the markings are natural scratches gradually enhanced over the years. The stone is preserved at the Yarmouth County Museum & Archives.

The region was visited in 1604 by Samuel de Champlain, who named it "Cap-Fourchu", meaning "forked or cloven cape." The first Europeans to make a settlement on these shores were the French Acadians in the mid-17th century. New England Planters settled at what is now the town of Yarmouth in 1759; the grantees were from Yarmouth, Massachusetts and they requested that Yarmouth be named after their former home. Yarmouth was founded in 1761 when a ship carrying three families arrived from Sandwich, Massachusetts. During the American Revolution, some in Yarmouth were sympathetic to the rebellion. Following the war, Acadians from the Grand-Pré district who returned from exile in 1767 settled in the Yarmouth area. After the American Revolution, substantial numbers of United Empire Loyalists arrived in 1785.

Through the 19th century the town was a major shipbuilding centre, at one point boasting more registered tonnage per capita than any other port in the world. As wooden shipbuilding declined in the late 19th century, Yarmouth's shipowners re-invested their capital into factories, iron-hulled steamships, and railways.

Tourism has been a major industry in Yarmouth since the 1880s when Loran Ellis Baker founded the Yarmouth Steamship Company. Steamship and railway promotion based in Yarmouth created the first tourism marketing in Nova Scotia. Baker's steamships operated between Yarmouth and Boston.

In 1939, examiners at Yarmouth's Merchant Marine Institution made seafaring history by issuing master's papers to Molly Kool, the first female ship captain in the Western World.

The growth of post-war automobile-based tourism led to additional ferry service with New England, a region with many family connections to the Maritimes dating to the 18th century and which accelerated during the first half of the 20th century.

During the first year of the Second World War, Yarmouth was selected as the location for a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) facility. RCAF Station Yarmouth was opened in 1940. RCAF Station Yarmouth closed in 1945. The airfield was sold to the Department of Transport in 1946 and became the Yarmouth Airport. A Canadian Army training camp (known as Camp 60) on Parade Street provided basic and artillery training for 20,000 soldiers during the war.

Climate
Winters are cool and rainy with a January average of −3.0 °C (26.6 °F) though owing to strong maritime influences, temperatures below −20 °C (−4.0 °F) are very rare, and the average high never drops to below freezing at any point in the year. The weather can be unsettled and cloudy due to the Nor'easters coming up the coast from the southwest. As a result, Yarmouth averages only 68–100 hours of sunshine from December to February or 25%–34% of possible sunshine.

Yarmouth's summers are cool due the strong coastal influence from the sea which keeps summer temperatures cool, meaning temperatures above 30 °C (86.0 °F) are very rare. The average temperature in the warmest month, August is 17.0 °C (62.6 °F).

Spring and fall are transitional seasons in which falls are warmer than spring since the waters are at the warmest temperatures in fall and the coldest during early spring. Precipitation is significant, averaging over 1,292 millimetres (51 in) a year, with July and August the driest months on average and November the wettest month on average. An outstanding feature is Yarmouth's late-fall to early-winter precipitation maximum. Summer is the sunniest and winter being the cloudiest. Yarmouth averages 191 days of fog each year.

By car
From Halifax, take Highway 101 on the South Shore or Highway 103 on the North Shore.

See

 * Cape Forchu Lightstation. Dramatic, bold coastline and historic lighthouse now open to the public. Small museum and tea room. Cape Forchu was named by Champlain in 1605. Drive to Cape Forchu easily from downtown Yarmouth, passing the numerous fishing shanties and lobster pounds along the way.
 * Chebogue Salt Marsh and Chebogue Point. The largest salt-water marshland in the province was once the home of a major Acadian French settlement.
 * Chebogue Salt Marsh and Chebogue Point. The largest salt-water marshland in the province was once the home of a major Acadian French settlement.

Beaches
There aren't any beaches in the town, but there are a few within a short drive.

Buy
There is an Atlantic Superstore, Sobeys, and Wal-Mart.

Go next

 * Digby and Pubnico
 * Tobeatic Wilderness Reserve in Kemptville
 * Tobeatic Wilderness Reserve in Kemptville

title: Yarmouth (Nova Scotia)


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Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl  (Ярославль) is the capital city of Yaroslavl Oblast in Russia and a point on Golden Ring itinerary.

Understand
With a population of 600,000 people, Yaroslavl is the second-largest city in Central Russia after Moscow. Its 1000-year history and location in the middle of Golden Ring make Yaroslavl a good point for a day or weekend trip from Moscow.

By train

Train timetables and fares can be found on the RZD website.

From Moscow
Yaroslavl is 266 km from Moscow and 13 trains per day make the 3-4 hour journey (₽500-900) from Yaroslavsky Railway station in Moscow. These trains include the Trans Siberian Railway trains, departing from Moscow.

From Saint Petersburg
An overnight train makes the 12-hour journey from Saint Petersburg daily. Tickets cost from ₽750.

From other points
Journey by elektrichka needs connection in Alexandrov, stopping in Rostov Veliky first and Sergiev Posad later - both worthwhile excursions.

Daily trains include other destinations of Arkhangelsk, Ivanovo, Vorkuta, Cherepovets, and Tolyatti.

By bus
There are buses from Moscow Central bus station near Schyolkovskaya metro station at 08:30, 12:15, 14:15, 17:30, 23:15 daily. The journey takes 5 hours. Underway, the bus passes places such as Rostov Veliky and Sergiev Posad, both well worth a visit.

By car
Taking the opportunity of no traffic jams from Moscow, if any, drive on Yaroslavskoye shosse aka M-8 'Kholmogory' and visit beautiful destinations en-route: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl Zalessky, Rostov Veliky. The road takes 4 hours or more, depending on traffic near Moscow.

Get around

Rides on public transport, which operate during the day and late at night and include buses, marshrutkas, and trolleybuses, costs ₽23-26.

The most useful trolleybus is trolleybus #1, which starts at the train station, and goes all the way down Svobody, through Volkovo to Yaroslavl Red Square.

See
The historical center of the city is found at the river confluence which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Architecture is mostly Classicism era of Catherine the Great.

Religious buildings

 * Church of Ilya the Prophet: a very impressive church, which is run like a museum. The frescoes inside are exceptionally rich in detail, and depict many of the most vivid Biblical stories. Well worth a visit. There is often a small choir performing in one of the side galleries, asking only for donations. ₽500
 * Alexander Nevskiy Chapel
 * Transfiguration Cathedral
 * St. John the Baptist Church: a beautiful brick church on the Volga-riverside in a dreary suburb. Well worth a small trip (you can get their with marshrutkas (about ₽50 in total) but taxis are much quicker and not that much more expensive (around ₽100). This church is considered to be the epitome of Yaroslavl's school of church architecture - and probably the most impressive brick church of Russia, only surpassed by Saint Basil's of Moscow. ₽100.
 * Vvedenskiy Tolga Convent
 * St. Elijah The Prophet Church
 * Kazansky Monastery
 * Temple of the Lord Presentation

Monuments

 * Monument to the Bear
 * Monument to Afonya And Plasterer Kolya
 * Monument of Yaroslav the Wise
 * Monument Celebrating 1000 Years of Yaroslavl
 * Monument to Copeck of 1612

Do

 * Cruise over Volga.
 * Tours of Smaller Golden Ring (Uglich-Myshkin-Tutayev-Rybinsk) that takes 3 days and even smaller excursions to neighboring towns.
 * Be a guest of Baba-Yaga on her birthday, 26 June.

Festivals and events

 * Jazz over Volga (Джаз над Волгой), the international festival of jazz taking place every odd year since 1979 in March.

Buy
Go along Deputatskaya St and you'll find several curious shops of traditional cloths (6/1), amulets (15) and stone (15/43).

Kiosks at the museums and rooms of souvenirs inside them are another opportunity to give a look and buy something.

Eat
The best place to eat out is the Volga promenade but there is a bunch of curious restaurants:

For more standard Russian fare, visit one of the modern 'stolovaya's' (buffets) of the Bazar chain, found all around the city. Priced very competitively.

Drink
For a dark, smoky atmosphere, you could do worse than Bar Beer, which is on the main street, just off Ploshad Volkovo, heading towards the monastery. They only sell beer: if you're looking for anything other than beer, you would be better off heading to Ars Café, which is inside a theatre next to the Bear's Corner hotel. There are three main sections to Ars Café, an upstairs, with comfortable sofas, which is often busy, a downstairs section, with dance floor and a big long table for larger groups, and a back room, which you have to pay to get into, but is very comfortable, and is primarily supposed to be used to smoke Kalyan (Shisha). Across the road from Ars Café is Tarzan, a higher end establishment, which is a restaurant by day. Dark inside, with a jungle theme. The bar Silver is on Ulitsa Svobody, near the Ulitsa Pobedy junction. Pleasant inside, with a very silver theme. They also serve food. Bristol, on Kirova, is nice, but pricey.

Aktor, a studenty bar a few years ago, has become a seedy, unpleasant place, and Cocktail Bar, next door, threaten to serve you "Cancer" (a mis-translation of Crab), but that's the least of your worries - bad vodka, appalling service, and a joke of a toilet means it's better avoided.

Learn

 * The center of German language, email: jardc@mubint.ru.

Read

 * Nikolay Nekrasov: His mansion in Yaroslavl Oblast is a museum 15 km from the city.

Internet
Free Wi-Fi locations abound: and many more but they may be pay Wi-Fi points.
 * McDonald's at 119, Leningradsky Prospekt and 115, Moskovsky Prospekt.
 * Kinomaks at 123, Leningradsky Prospekt.
 * Mojo Coctail Club at 9, Svobody St.
 * Yubileynaya hotel.
 * Le Petit Cafe at 4 Volzhskaya Naberezhnaya (riverside).
 * Shaiba (sport-bar) at 135, Moskovsky Prospekt.
 * Rodina at 7a, Respublikanskaya St.

Go next
Take an elektrichka to Rostov Veliky or Alexandrov.

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

title: Yaroslavl


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Yaroslavl Oblast

Yaroslavl Oblast is a region in Central Russia, which borders Moscow Oblast to the southwest, Tver Oblast to the west, Vologda Oblast to the north, Kostroma Oblast to the east, Ivanovo Oblast to the southeast, and Vladimir Oblast to the south.

Cities

 * — the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nearly 1,000 years old, full of major cultural monuments—you haven't seen the Golden Ring if you haven't seen Yaroslavl
 * — a small town near Rostov, which is often visited for its Monastery of Boris and Gleb
 * — a small town on the river cruise route with a pretty Cathedral of the Assumption and other 19th-century architecture
 * — a small city full of important monasteries, cathedrals, and even the church where Alexander Nevsky was baptized
 * — this town has way more than its fair share of Russian culture, with an inspired kremlin and several of Russia's most important monasteries
 * — the second largest regional city used to be a major trade center on the Volga; Rybinsk is home to Rybinsk dam (which created one of the world's largest man-made lakes), a prominent cathedral, and a particularly impressive Roman Catholic cathedral (a testament to the city's historical trade importance)
 * — a large town containing many old churches along the riverside of the Volga
 * — a 1,000-year-old town with a kremlin and the Alexeyevsky and Resurrection Monasteries

Understand
Yaroslavl Oblast is full of magnificent destinations for onion dome loving travelers on the Golden Ring circuit. The region has benefited from trade throughout Russia's history as it lies on the Volga River and is relatively close to both Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Under Stalin's rule, a massive dam was built at Rybinsk, creating the Rybinsk Reservoir, which is about the size of Brunei, and which flooded some of the region's most important religious sites, especially at the town of Mologa, where 300 residents refused to leave and drowned.

Talk
English and possibly other languages are often spoken at major tourist sites, but in the rest of the regions, Russian may be the only language that you encounter.

Get in
Trains arrive from Saint Petersburg and Moscow (~4 hours) to Yaroslavl, and from Moscow to Rostov Veliky (3 hours).

By air to Tunoshna Airport.

Get around
Long-distance trains will take you between the cities of Rostov, Yaroslavl, Danilov and Lyubim - this is the most served direction by trains from Moscow to Far East (with some of trains branching to Kostroma via Moscovsky railway station in Yaroslavl and Nerehta, and other going through Lyubim to Bui), or to Vologda and the North (branching in Danilov). There 2-3 long distance trains to Rybinsk depending on the season, but this direction is covered by buses and minibuses in spades. Local trains originate from Yaroslavl and reach Alexandrov via Rostov (with about half of them shorter), Rybinsk, Danilov, and via Nerehta - Kostroma and Ivanovo, about 3-5 trains daily in each direction, including express trains to Kostroma.

Road and bus network stems from M8 highway, which goes through Pereslavl, Petrovskoe, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Danilov, includes branches to Kostroma, Rybinsk, 2 connecting roads to Uglich - from Yaroslavl and from Rostov via Borisoglebsk. Directions, well served by buses, are Poshehonje - Rybinsk - Yaroslavl - Rostov - Pereslavl or Borisoglebsk; Yaroslavl - Uglich, Yaroslavl - Kostroma. Connections between cities, that bypass Yaroslavl, may be significantly less served.

An important caveat is that Pereslavl is not served by any train, even though there is a railway station there, and also one the most famous railway museums - it should be reached via M8.

Towns along the Volga can also be reached by car via P104 Sergiev Posad - Kalyazin - Uglich - Myshkin - Rybinsk - Poshehonje - Cherepovets, which runs roughly along Volga and then east of Rybinsk reservoir. Road quality may change with the season, and usually is worse south of Uglich and towards Poshehonje. If possible, reading recent reviews of the road state is recommended. Crossing Volga over bridge is possible in Uglish (over hydroelectric station dam), Rybinsk and by ferry in Myshkin (other crosses include 2 bridges in Yaroslavl with new one on M8 and ferry in Tutaev). Alternative connection between Uglish and Myshkin is possible either via left bank, or significantly deviating east to Bolshoe Selo through scenic countryside.

title: Yaroslavl Oblast


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Yarragon

Yarragon is a town of 1,660 people (2016) in Central Gippsland. Hills of the Strzelecki Ranges rise over 500 metres immediately to the south of the town providing a spectacular backdrop, while the Moe River and the lowlands lie to the north and east.

Understand
Yarragon is a town along the Princes Freeway which the world's only freeway to have traffic lights, houses and roundabouts. It is in the shire of Baw Baw.

The town was a centre for dairy farms in the vicinity (a former dairy factory lies to the north of the railway line), and for logging activities in the heavily forested hills to the south.

By car
Yarragon is located on the Princes Highway/M1, about 118 km outside of Melbourne. The town sits approximately halfway between Warragul and Moe.

By train
V/Line operates train services from Melbourne to Yarragon on an almost hourly basis 7 days a week. While most trains on this route require only a Myki, some do require a paper ticket. Check the V/Line website to make sure. The train trip takes about 2 hours. Trains depart and arrive at. The full timetable is available here.

Get around
Yarragon is accessible on foot, so no local transport is necessary. There is no public transport in Yarragon, but you can rent cars in nearby Warragul.

Eat
The shopping strip is separated from the main Princes Highway running through town. There are several cafes and take-away places to choose from.

Connect
Yarragon has coverage from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone on the 4G network.

title: Yarragon


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Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is a wine-growing area with many wineries, near Melbourne in Victoria. The valley is on Melbourne's doorstep and you can be there in approximately an hour from Melbourne CBD by driving down the Eastern Freeway (M3) and the Maroondah Highway (B360), which runs through the middle of the valley. The wineries are clearly signposted, and many of them are directly accessible from the highway.

Cities

 * – a quaint exurb of Melbourne on the foothills of the Sherbrooke Forest
 * – an outer-eastern suburb of Melbourne
 * – a regional centre

Other destinations

 * — these beautiful ranges offer world class gardens and picturesque villages
 * – home to the incredible Black Spur Forest

Understand
The Yarra Valley is the region surrounding the Yarra River. The river originates approximately 240 km east of the Melbourne central business district and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay. The name Yarra Valley is used in reference to the upper regions surrounding the Yarra River and generally does not encompass the lower regions including the city and suburban areas, where the topography flattens out, or the upper reaches which are in inaccessible bushland. Included in the Yarra Valley is the sub-region of the Upper Yarra Valley which encompasses the towns of the former Shire of Upper Yarra in the catchment area upstream of and including Woori Yallock.

The Yarra Valley is a popular day-trip and tourist area, featuring a range of natural features and agricultural produce, as well as the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.

The Yarra Valley is host to a thriving wine-growing industry. The area's relatively cool climate makes it particularly suited to the production of high-quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.

By car
The easiest way to get in to the Yarra Valley from Melbourne is by using the M3 Eastlink and the B360 Maroondah Highway. The B360 runs right through the middle of the Yarra Valley for most of the accessible bits.

By train
Belgrave and Hurstbridge stations are the terminus of the namesake lines from the city.

Get around

 * Great cycling country all around the Yarra Valley; catch the train to Hurstbridge then climb up to Kinglake via St.Andrews (great Saturday market) then along the ridge to Toolangi; down to Healsville for lunch. Great food at Healsville; fine coffee at Yarra Glen.
 * Or try the mountain bike routes through Smiths Gully (fine coffee and cake at the store) and Sugarloaf areas; or climb up past Mt Everard to Kinglake (steep in places) and then down into Dixons Creek and then onto Yarra Glen.

Do
Things to do
 * Hot air balloon flights
 * Vineyard hopping
 * Browse the Yarra Glen Sunday market, one of the local farmer's markets or the Healesville car boot markets behind the main street shops on the first Sunday of each month.
 * Play golf at one of the quality courses
 * Lilydale Airfield offers light plane sightseeing trips, flying experience, and flying lessons.
 * Nearby Coldstream Airfield, operated by Yarra Valley Flight Training, offers similar services.
 * Take a ride on the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway from Healesville
 * Have a BBQ at Sugarloaf Reservoir
 * Visit the world famous Healesville Sanctuary where you can see native Australian wildlife such as kangaroos, platypus, emus and more up close. It also includes scheduled activities with Rangers, a spirits of the sky bird show, wildlife experiences for extra costs and a wildlife hospital.
 * Blue Lotus Water Garden features an assortment of specially bred lilies, lotus flowers and other water plants. Includes a cafe, giftshop and nursery.
 * Donna Buang Rainforest Gallery and Skywalk. Near Warburton, at the foot of Donna Buang, a short walk that loops through the rainforest and a skywalk allowing you to stand metres in the air, still only halfway up the mammoth trees.
 * Puffing Billy Railway Ride this historic railway between various locations in the area. Tickets cost $59-77 for adults and $30-39 for children. Stops at Emerald, Belgrave, Lakeside and Gembrook.
 * Lysterfield Lake
 * Lysterfield Lake

Eat

 * Great coffee and muffins/croissants (or real hamburgers) at Smiths Gully store.
 * At the entrance to Healesville is Wattleseed Cafe a favourite in winter with open fire, excellent Eggs Benedict, hot chocolates and coffee.
 * A must for a little alternate, healthy eating is the Bodhi Tree Cafe on the far side of the township, opposite the Giant Steps Winery. Usually on Friday and Saturday nights this eatery hosts live music with local artists. Worth the effort!
 * For the best views over the Yarra Ranges and a great feed from the inside barbecue, take some time out at Riverstone Estate, the last open vineyard before Healesville. Dinosaur TBones and Buffalo Sausages with great accompaniments and washed down with a good Sav Blanc.

Wineries and vineyards

 * Helen's Hill Winery: A family-owned vineyard producing fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. You can sample their wines in a Cellar Door that attaches itself via massive glass panes overlooking the Barrel Room. The wines are excellent value and high quality. Onsite is also a superb restaurant with one of the best views over the entrance to the Yarra Valley. Kid-friendly, too.
 * Oakridge Wines, 864 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream +61 39738 9900: beginning as a family company Oakridge makes wine from grapes grown on the rich, red, volcanic soils of the valley. A small restaurant with views across the estate serves meals adapted for the seasons and local produce.
 * Tokar Estate: further along Maroondah Highway towards Healesville is this Spanish-inspired complex which features an excellent restaurant that regularly hosts Gourmet and Degustation events. The wine is fruit driven and the show piece Syrah Reserve and Aria are particularly delicious. Friendly and inviting, this is one of the better Valley destinations.
 * Whispering Hills on the Warburton side of the valley has a quaint Cellar Door to a vineyard which produces a tantalising Reisling amongst its range of wines. Grown above the township of Seville, its rich soils are spring-fed and produce lively wines. Coffee shop attached and friendly folk, open on weekends and extended opening during holiday periods. A favourite during the area's ShedFest events.
 * Hubert Estate: The latest venture from businessman Gerry Ryan. If you’ve been to Mitchelton Winery in the Nagambie, the Hubert Estate, reopened in 2022, is rather similar. It includes cellar door featuring St Hubert’s wines, wine store, Quarters restaurant serving modern-Australia cuisine, event space Harriet, an art gallery and they’re building an 80-room hotel and wellness centre.

Stay safe
Crime in Yarra Valley is almost non-existent, but care should still be taken such as lock your car doors and make sure that valuables inside the car are not visible to outside. If you follow these precautions, everything should be fine and your day would be an enjoyable one.

Since you are likely to be on a wine tasting tour, it is advisable to be aware of how high your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) if you are driving. The legal limit is 0.05%. Police regularly set up check points around Yarra Valley to test the motorists' alcohol level (often referred by locals and police alike as the "Booze Bus" due to the use of a police bus to detain the drivers over the BAC limit), make sure you are not over the limit, or the police will issue you a large fine and ban you from driving in Australia.

When driving, be careful of wildlife during sunset, as this is the time that animals like kangaroos tend to be active during this period.

Go next

 * The Gippsland region is your next primary destination

title: Yarra Valley


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Yarrawonga-Mulwala

Yarrawonga-Mulwala is a twin city on the border of the Murray River in the Riverina.

Get in
The quickest way to get to Yarrawonga-Mulwala is via car. While there are trains, they're infrequent and not a reliable way of getting here. But from Albury, it's a 1.5 hour drive west via the Murray Valley Highway and from Melbourne it's a 4 hour drive via the  Hume Fwy and the  Benalla-Yarrawonga Rd.

Do
The city of Mulwala in Victoria, Australia is known as one of the country's top sporting meccas. With the Murray River and Lake Mulwala in its environs, guests of the city are treated to the most exciting array of water sports.

title: Yarrawonga-Mulwala


text:
Yasawa Islands

The Yasawa Islands are a group of islands in north-western Fiji. Approximately 30 resorts are spread through the 12 major islands in the group. Most resorts provide basic accommodation and meals with access to natural and cultural sites.

Islands

 * Nanuya Levu – "The Blue Lagoon"
 * – airport
 * Nanuya Levu – "The Blue Lagoon"
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport

Get in
Awesome Adventures Fiji provide the Yasawa Flyer as the primary transport to and through the Yasawa Islands from Nadi. Although local taxis can provide better value on short trips in good weather, the Flyer is your best bet for longer trips, like travelling to and from the Islands. Awesome Adventures have an office in the main street where you can book. They will help you plan your itinerary - which islands to stop off at, for how long, and where to stay. The Yasawa flyer is a good organisation who don't try to rip you off or convince you to stay at one place in preference to another.

There is also Tavewa Seabus transporting passengers from Lautoka to Yasawa Islands at 8AM daily. The trip takes 3 hours.

Get around
If you came by the "yellow boat" (Yasawa Flyer) then it will pick you up on its daily run and take you to your next island. If you have a 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 or 21-day 'Bula Pass', this is included in your fare, otherwise, it can cost between $45 and $70 to go from one island to the next. A local water taxi can provide a far cheaper means to transfer between islands, especially for shorter trips when the weather is reasonably clear. Some resorts will pick you up from your current resort for free, otherwise rates tend to range from $5-15. It always pays to ask around before you book, especially with the resort you are travelling to (that wants your business more than the one you've just paid for). Like all prices in Fiji, these charges are often negotiable, especially if you are travelling in a group (since most charges are per head, you can bargain for a group discount). One caveat: Local boats are slower and have been known to run out of fuel and never carry oars, so don't take local boats if such surprises would ruin your holiday (but if slow, reactive responses to problems is going to frustrate you, Fiji is probably not your ideal holiday location - Fiji time!)

See
The Yasawas are beautiful and unspoilt. The best two natural activities are hiking (many of the islands have high hills that provide great views of all the nearby islands) and snorkeling or diving (most of the islands have some level of reef life, although note the comments under 'Sleep' about the re-growing reefs).

Do
Snorkeling and diving are excellent. Some islands even have spectacular snorkeling right off the beach. Diving rates are cheap. You can get certification if you need it. Manta Ray Island Resort offers special snorkeling trips to see manta rays when they are passing a shallow passage between islands. Be sure to stay alert - you have to jump the boat in 5 minutes from "manta ray alarm".

Most islands have good hiking, e.g. Wayalailai where you can climb to the top to see the sun rise, or hike the length of the island and cross the spit to Waya. Guides are available, or you can go alone.

Almost all islands will have someone who can teach basket or bracelet weaving, using palm fronds and banana leaves.

There are regular kava ceremonies on many islands. Guests are invited to join. On smaller and more intimate islands it would be rude to refuse.

Go to church in one of the villages for the Sunday service. The locals are welcoming, and you will be awed by their beautiful harmonious singing.

Ask the locals to take you through their plantation and show you the bananas, papaya, mangoes, breadfruit, casava and other fruits and vegetables growing for your eating pleasure.

Various day trips are available including the cave trip (diving through a tunnel 30 cm down and 1.5 metre long to visit several underground caverns), the Blue Lagoon (not the real one, which is privately owned) and local trips such as fishing or snorkeling. You can also do day trips on the island to visit local villages and schools.

Buy
Some islands have souvenirs but these are generally cheaper to buy on the mainland (e.g. in the streets and markets of Nadi). The key souvenir you may like to buy is a local sulu for that resort. Otherwise, your money is likely to be spent on drinks (water, beer or cocktails) and snacks (chips, biscuits, etc.).

Eat
There are three levels of catering - (i) sparse plates and buffets that run out, (ii) generous serves of high carbohydrate meals and (iii) broad balanced meals with endless buffets to suit all appetites and preferences. If you like fish, please be sure to let the locals (especially the chef) know - they often think people prefer chicken. Beef is quite expensive in Fiji and you are not likely to see it very often. Vegetarianism is generally poorly understood and for strict vegetarians or people with allergies it can be quite difficult to explain that even sauces, spices and flavourings are not suitable. If you have any kind of allergy or strong dietary preference you must talk to the chef as soon as you get on the island (lunch often follows shortly afterward) and explain it in detail (e.g. "must be cooked completely separate from any meat, fish, chicken, oyster sauce, seasoning, etc."). It is often valuable to say what you can eat (e.g. "any vegetables or fruit, even raw!") to give them a sense of what they can do.

Most people are reasonably happy with the food provided at resorts, although healthier eaters may miss a balance of non-starchy veggies.

Drink
Most resorts provide drinking water at meals, but sell water ($4-$5 for a 1.5 litre bottle) at other times. Water supplies are generally from rain (off corrugated roofs), springs or imported from the mainland.

English backpackers will be happy to hear that beer (Fiji Bitter or Fiji Gold $5-6 per can) is in plentiful supply, and most resorts will also provide other forms of alcohol including cocktails ($10-18 depending on resort and cocktail). Buy supplies like alcohol or cookies in mainland if you are short on budget.

Sleep
Most islands have some kind of budget resort, where you sleep in a dorm or bure (thatched hut). Food (set menu, mostly local dishes) is usually included in the price or is a compulsory addition (no local alternatives exist). Some islands have considerably more upmarket hotels.

Accommodation varies significantly in quality, from vary sparse rooms with open through to comfortable, Western-style private rooms with a toilet, hot shower and secure doors and windows (Nalova Bay). If the bures are not reasonably airtight then a good mosquito net is a real necessity, although a top sheet can also help to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Most beds are not grungy, but do vary from vary soft through to firm.

Sleep is also affected by the nightlife of the resort. Most resorts have a main bure with a bar and some form of night activity (dancing, international night, singing, etc.) Usually this concludes at a reasonable hour and people continue to talk quietly and drink until they go to bed. At some locations, a much more festive spirit is felt, and if the dorm/bures are anywhere near the main bure, sleeping may prove difficult.

Cold showers are the norm, which is fine during the days (usually quite warm), but salt water or mixed salt/fresh water showers are not uncommon. Drinking water is a somewhat scarce resource on the islands, but is usually provided free at meals. Some resorts have unlimited water, others require you to buy bottled water outside of meal times (typically US$4-5 a 1.5L bottle).

The final factor in deciding where to stay is the surroundings and activities, which is somewhat subjective. Up until about five years ago, many areas in Fiji dynamited their coral to sell to aquariums, so there are large patches of dead coral with an occasional patch of life. However, there are an increasing number of marine sanctuaries and even coral farms that are bringing the coral (and accompanying sea life) back. Some places have a great variety of fish up to 1 m in length and some even have sharks and turtles. On the whole, however, Fiji reef life is not yet up to the standard seen in other tropical areas, especially the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Awesome Adventures Fiji, provides backpacker accommodation packages throughout the islands. Packages range from 3-12 days and include accommodation, vessel transfers, meals, and activities. Alternatively, the "Bula Combo Pass" provides an easy, hassle free way to pay for accommodation, as many properties do not accept credit cards or travellers cheques, only cash.

Also consider using Airbnb, as several homestay listings are also listed there, with reviews and photos which can give you an idea of what to expect. Hosts listed under "Superhost" status are usually a good option, although they will clearly state that their island accommodation is not a resort.

Go next

 * Mamanuca Islands - The Mamanuca Islands just off the coast from Denarau offer beautiful crystal clear waters, palm fringed long sandy beaches and abundant coral reefs. There are islands, villages, resorts to visit, and snorkelling and swimming. South Sea Cruises have a range of day cruises to choose from. A popular choice for travelers is the Seaspray Sailing Adventure - an all-inclusive day, sailing the Mamanucas on an 83-foot (25-m) schooner.

title: Yasawa Islands


text:
Yas Island

Yas Island is an island near the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Understand
Yas Island is just off the coast about 20 km from Abu Dhabi city center. It has a land area of 2,500 hectares. The island should not be confused with Sir Bani Yas Island.

The Yas Island Circuit, the host of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, is here.

The island is also home to several theme park-based attractions such as Warner Bros. Movie World, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and two water parks. It also has a marina, a large mall and several hotels.

Get in
Yas Island is best reached by road. It is linked to the mainland by a massive expressway and bridge which connects directly to the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway. Highways and bridges also link Yas Island directly to Abu Dhabi city via Saadiyat Island. Public buses serve the island from downtown every 30 minutes for 4 dirham.

Get around
Yas Island is quite big and its attractions are spread out. The only practical way to get around is by private vehicle. The roads around Yas Island are wide and good.

Eat

 * Park Inn
 * Crowne Plaza
 * Crowne Plaza

Go next

 * Abu Dhabi

title: Yas Island


text:
Yasothon

Yasothon (ยโสธร) is a town and province in the Isaan region of Thailand.

By car
Use Hwy 1 (Pahol Yothin Rd) and turn right at Saraburi onto Hwy 2 (Mitraphap Rd). Keep going via Korat to Phimai, Nong Song Hong, and Ban Phai of Khon Kaen. Get onto Hwy 23, travel via Boraue, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Thawatburi, and Seraphume to Yasothon. This route is 531 km and it takes 7 hours.

By bus
Buses and air conditioned coaches leave the Northeastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok for Yasothon daily. For more information, call Northeastern Bus Terminal, Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, at +66 2 9362852-66.

See

 * Phaya Tan Park สวนสาธารณะพญาแถน The park is surrounded by winding stream. It includes a beautiful garden, outdoor stage, playground, and health park. Phaya Tan Park is the venue for provincial fairs and festivals such as annual Rocket Festival, short boat racing, and Songkran (Thailand).
 * Wat Maha That. วัดมหาธาตุ The Buddhist temple is a Yasothon icon. The ancient temple houses "Phra Buddha Boonyarat" or "Phra Kaeo Yod Nam Kang", Buddha statue in attitude of meditation in Chiang Saen Art style. Attractions in Wat Maha That include:
 * Phaya Tan Park สวนสาธารณะพญาแถน The park is surrounded by winding stream. It includes a beautiful garden, outdoor stage, playground, and health park. Phaya Tan Park is the venue for provincial fairs and festivals such as annual Rocket Festival, short boat racing, and Songkran (Thailand).
 * Wat Maha That. วัดมหาธาตุ The Buddhist temple is a Yasothon icon. The ancient temple houses "Phra Buddha Boonyarat" or "Phra Kaeo Yod Nam Kang", Buddha statue in attitude of meditation in Chiang Saen Art style. Attractions in Wat Maha That include:

 * Phra That Yasothon or Phra That Anon. พระธาตุยโสธร หรือ พระธาตุอานนท์ A significant ancient stupa of Isan. Housing ashes of Phra Ananda พระอานนท์ inside, the square based stupa has a head similar to Phra That Phanom.

 * Hor Trai or Library for Buddhist scriptures. หอไตร The pavilion is used for keeping Buddhist scriptures. The rectangular pavilion has terrace around for housing the Buddhist scriptures chest board, cradles, and shelves from Vientiane. The niche and wooden door are well carved and covered with gold leaf.

 * Phra That Kong Khao Noi. พระธาตุก่องข้าวน้อย Different from other monuments which are often mainly concerned with Buddhism, Phra That Kong Khao Noi was built by a commoner. Legend says that a young farmer had been working since dawn. At noon, his mother came late with his lunch. Great hunger and his anger at seeing a tiny serving of rice drove him to kill his mother. The young farmer built this stupa, hoping for forgiveness and to expiate his sin.

 * Ban Thung Nang Oak. บ้านทุ่งนางโอก A village famed for its bamboo basketry.
 * Ban Na Samai. หมู่บ้านนาสะไมย Close to Ban Thung Nang Oak, the village is famed for bamboo basketry and carved miniature carts.
 * The old building of Ban Singha Tha. ย่านเมืองเก่าบ้านสิงห์ท่า Ban Khum Singha Tha, in Muang municipality, is the old area whose name is found in the city's history.
 * Phu Tham Phra. ภูถ้ำพระ Housing Buddha statues, the cave Phu Tham Phra is six metres wide and 16 metres long. The shady mountain is blanketed with lush forest. Other caves in the area include Than Keng, Tham Ngu Suang, Tham Kliang, and Tham Prombutr.
 * Ban Song Puey Archeological Site. แหล่งโบราณสถานบ้านสงเปือย Its significant attractions include:

 * Big Buddha Image. พระพุทธรูปใหญ่ Made of brick, the principal Buddha of Wat Song Puey is three metres wide and eight metres high. This sacred image can be dated back more than 200 years.

 * Pagodas containing soil from holy sites of Buddhism. เจดีย์บรรจุดินจากสังเวชนียสถาน The old pagoda, more than 200 years old, houses soil from a holy site of Buddha, namely the place of birth, enlightenment, the first sermon, and nirvana, brought from India by a Buddhist monk, Khien Ammaphand.

 * The replica of Buddha's footprint. รอยพระพุทธบาทจำลอง The Buddha footprint was built by sponsorship of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram and his lady. Local people come to bathe the footprint during Songkran.

 * Antique Museum. พิพิธภัณฑ์ของโบราณ The museum features antiques found in Dong Muang Toey, an ancient Khmer town. The antiques include the stone bed of the mayor, and stone inscriptions in ancient Khmer script.

 * Dong Muang Toey Ancient town. ซากเมืองโบราณดงเมืองเตย Foundations of a temple and town wall are found here. Although they are ruined, their remains indicate that it once was settlement in the Chenla-Dhavaravadi period. Chenla King's inscription indicates that this ancient site was religious site for Shaivism.

 * Ku Chan. กู่จาน is an ancient pagoda similar to that of Wat Phra That Phanom. Legend says it was built in the same period to Phra That Phanom in That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province.

 * Yasothon Buddha footprint. พระพุทธบาทยโสธร The Buddha footprint is on a white sandy hill. It is considered a sacred antique of the province. An antique found nearby is a 2 ft laterite Buddha image in the attitude of meditation under Nāga protection, and a laterite inscription which is a metre high and 50 centimetres wide.

 * Hor Trai, or library of Wat Sra Trinurak. หอไตรวัดสระไตรนุรักษ์ The pavilion, over a century old, houses Buddhist scriptures. The Burmese-style wooden architecture is 8.3 metres wide and 10.5 metres long, with 4-level metal-sheet roof and long eaves at all sides.

Buy
Yasothon boasts of its fragrant jasmine rice, watermelons (of the red-fleshed, spherical variety sometimes called "icebox melons") and  handcrafted axe pillows (Mon Kwan,) a specialty of Ban Si Than, the Khit pillow making village in Tambon Si Than, Amphoe Pa Tio. Yasothon is known for its handicrafts: Khit cloth, replica carts, sticky rice containers, and basketry. Good foods include preserved sour fish, royal featherback fish, and sweet rice noodles.

Go next

 * Roi Et bus 1.5 hours 60 baht, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani or Surin.

title: Yasothon


text:
Yasuj

Yasuj is a city in Kohkiluyeh and Buyer-Ahmad, about 150 km from Shiraz.

Get in
Shared taxis from Shiraz leave when they are full and cost 40,000 rials. The road is beautiful, and rewards you with excellent views of the Zagros range on clear days.

Get around
Shared taxi.

See

 * Yasuj waterfall is popular with young people and for picnics.
 * Nearby Naragah village features an ancient mound where recent archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery and burial sites.
 * The Yasuj Museum, which opened in 2002, displays coins, statues, pottery, and bronze vessels recovered from surrounding archaeological sites.

Sleep
Azadi Hotel, glamorous with great views, slightly run down. 480,000 rials double per night. +07412221497

Yasouj Parisian Hotel, noisy on a main road and features an exceptionally functional heating system. 280,000 rials double per night. +98 74 3332 3470

Go next
Shared taxi to Isfahan 80,000 rials.

title: Yasuj


text:
Yass

Yass is a country service town on the intersection of the Hume Highway (M31) and Barton Highway (A25) in New South Wales, just under an hour north-west of Canberra. It has a range of accommodation and good facilities for those passing through, and a handful of local attractions for wishing to relax a little longer.

Understand
Before the Yass Bypass was complete, the Hume Highway used to pass straight down the main street of town. The high street consisted of service stations, take-aways and motels. There are now highway services on the freeway, and little passing traffic through the town.

 * Yass Valley Shire Council
 * Tourism in Yass Valley Shire

By car
Yass is 3 hours drive from Sydney and 6 hours drive from Melbourne on the Hume Highway. Yass is approximately a 40-50 minute drive from Canberra, the national capital.

By train
Because of an historical curiosity, the train service from Sydney to Melbourne does not pass through Yass. It was linked by a spur line that has long since closed. Accordingly, you will need to be picked up or get a taxi from Yass Junction to Yass.

Train services run from Sydney and Melbourne to Yass Junction and are provided by NSW Trainlink (tel 13 22 32). Trains run run twice a day in both directions. It is approximately 4 hours from Sydney by train ($45 economy) and 7.5 hours from Melbourne ($90 economy).

By bus
Bus services are provided by:

 * NSW Trainlink from Cootamundra and, in the other direction, from Queanbeyan (the service passes through Canberra but does not pick up passengers).
 * CDC Canberra (tel ) weekdays to and from Canberra
 * Greyhound (tel 13 14 99 within Australia or internationally) from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
 * Fearnes (tel 1800 029918 free call within Australia or ) from Canberra.

Do

 * Country Stuff. It's not exactly the most thrilling town in the world, but its great for photographers and historians!

Eat
If you are passing through on the Hume, there is a major set of services at Yass, that don't require you to venture more than a few hundred metres from the freeway. Fuel and fast food available 24 hours.

Go next

 * Continue south along the Hume Highway to Gundagai and the Victorian border.
 * Go south (40 minute drive) via the Barton/Federal Highways to Canberra
 * Continue east along the Hume Highway to the inland town of Goulburn (50 minutes) and then Sydney (3 hours)

title: Yass


text:
Yasugi

Yasugi (安来) is a city at the eastern end of Shimane Prefecture. Directly to the west is the town of Higashi Izumo and then Matsue city. Directly to the east is the city of Yonago (Tottori Prefecture). On October 1, 2004, the towns of Hakuta and Hirose merged with the city of Yasugi.

Understand
The city used to be important for its steel production. It is best known for the comedic yasugibushi dance and as the home to the Adachi Museum of Art.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By train
Yasugi is on the San'in Main Line, which runs along western Honshu's Japan Sea coast, starting in Kyoto and passing through Tottori Prefecture on its way to Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

By bus
There are no night buses in and out of Yasugi. If coming by bus from a large city such as Tokyo take a bus to Yonago and then take the train into Yasugi. The bus terminal in Yonago is next to the train station. You could also take a bus to Matsue and then catch a local train to Yasugi.

Get around

 * Taxi. There are numerous taxi companies in Yasugi. Taxis can usually be found in front of Yasugi Station.  Also, as you exit the station, if you turn left and walk about a block you will find a taxi company that is open 24 hours a day.  The Yasugi city homepage maintaines a list of taxi companies and their contact information.

See

Go next

 * Yonago
 * Matsue
 * Okuizumo
 * Unnan
 * Hikawa
 * Izumo - home to Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's most holy Shinto Shrines.
 * Daisen - Home to the Fuji of the West, great for hiking and skiing.
 * Nichinan (Shimane)
 * Nanbu

title: Yasugi


text:
Yatsushiro

Yatsushiro (八代) is a city in Kumamoto (prefecture), Kyushu, Japan.

Understand
Yatsushiro is the second biggest city in Kumamoto prefecture and Japan's largest producer of the igusa grass used to make tatami mats.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
Kumamoto Airport is less than an hour away by car. Kamizono Kōtsū runs 10 Super Banpeiyu services a day to and from Yatsushiro (both stations and five central hotels), taking about an hour and costing ¥2300 (¥4200 roundtrip).

Fukuoka Airport is also a good option, though much further away (allow at least 1hr 30mins).

By train
Yatsushiro Station is the meeting point of the JR Kagoshima Line north to Kumamoto and beyond, the JR Hisatsu Line to Hitoyoshi (along the Kuma River), and the non-JR Hisatsu Orange Railway south along the coast towards Minamata. Shin-Yatsushiro Station is 5 minutes north on the Kagoshima Line, on the outskirts of town, and is the city's station on the Kyūshū Shinkansen.

Shin-Yatsushiro used to be the northern end of the Shinkansen line, where everyone had to change to a Relay train to Hakata, but since the line was completed in 2011 it has been a little less busy. There is usually one train per hour to each of Kagoshima-Chūō and Hakata, with some of the latter continuing as far as Shin-Ōsaka. It may be quicker to change at Hakata or Kumamoto.

Typical journey times and prices using the Shinkansen to Shin-Yatsushiro are as follows:

 * Kumamoto: 12 minutes and ¥2400
 * Kagoshima-Chūō: 45 minutes and ¥5480
 * Hakata: 50 minutes (by Sakura) and ¥5810
 * Hiroshima: 2 hours and ¥13,580
 * Shin-Ōsaka: 3 hrs 40 mins and ¥18,890

JR Kyushu sells a Nimai-kippu, valid for one month, which lets you go to and from Yatsushiro or Shin-Yatsushiro to Hakata (or any JR station in the Fukuoka area) for ¥10,200, which is ¥1420 cheaper than buying two normal tickets.

On the JR Kagoshima Line, Kumamoto is 40 minutes and ¥740 away from Yatsushiro. There are usually two trains per hour, stopping at all stations (including trains marked Regional Rapid). Hitoyoshi is a little over an hour and ¥2450 away by Limited Express, or 1 hr 20 mins and ¥1110 by local train.

JR services to Yatsushiro and Shin-Yatsushiro are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR Kyūshū's All Kyūshū Area Pass and Southern Kyūshū Area Pass (the latter only as far north as Kumamoto).

By bus
Shin-Yatsushiro Station East Exit is served by 16 B&S Miyazaki Buses a day from Hitoyoshi, Ebino, Kobayashi, Miyakonojō, and Miyazaki, taking 2 hours 20 mins and costing ¥4270 (¥7680 return, valid for 10 days). Operated by JR Kyūshū Bus, Sankō Bus, and Miyazaki Kōtsū.

 * From Hitoyoshi Interchange these take 40 minutes and ¥1390; this is much faster and more frequent than the Hisatsu Line, and only ¥280 more expensive than the local trains, though you swap the views of the Kuma River for the Higo Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Kyūshū.

Yatsushiro Interchange (2.6 km southeast of Shin-Yatsushiro Station) is served by the following buses:

 * 8 Kirishima-gō buses from Kagoshima and Kagoshima Airport, taking a little over 2 hrs 30 mins and costing ¥2830. These buses can also be used towards Kumamoto (1 hour and ¥1440). Operated by Sankō Bus, Kagoshima Kōtsū, and Nangoku Kōtsū.
 * 8 Phoenix-gō buses from Hitoyoshi, Ebino, Kobayashi, Miyakonojō, and Miyazaki, taking 2 hours 30 minutes and costing ¥4270. These buses can also be used towards Fukuoka (2 hrs 20 mins and ¥3090). Only All-Stop (Kakutei) buses stop at Yatsushiro - don't get on the faster Super Phoenix buses! Operated by Nishitetsu Kōsoku Bus, Sankō Bus, and Miyazaki Kōtsū.

See

 * Shohinken - Within the old castle grounds is the Shohinken Tea House, built in 1688 by the Matsui clan. When built, it was on the shore of Yatsushiro Bay.  Now it is well inland.  It contains a small museum of Matsui relics as well as a small stroll garden.  In May, Higo Irises are in bloom.

Do

 * Hinagu hot spring (25 minutes and ¥200 by bus from Yatsushiro Station or Yatsushiro-Shiyakusho-mae, or 11 minutes and ¥340 on the Hisatsu Orange Railway to Hinagu-Onsen station, then 10 minutes walk.) Simple spa and carbonic acid hydrogen spa. 40~50 Degrees Celsius. Said to be good for neuralgia and rheumatism.
 * Hinagu hot spring (25 minutes and ¥200 by bus from Yatsushiro Station or Yatsushiro-Shiyakusho-mae, or 11 minutes and ¥340 on the Hisatsu Orange Railway to Hinagu-Onsen station, then 10 minutes walk.) Simple spa and carbonic acid hydrogen spa. 40~50 Degrees Celsius. Said to be good for neuralgia and rheumatism.

Buy

 * Jusco and Youme Town are both in the city, providing shopping centers of various stores and restaurants.
 * Enthusiasts of pottery can find three Kodayaki kilns in the area. It's noted for its blue-gray crackled glaze with white inlay.  The oldest is the former "Sakai" family kiln.  The most famous is the Agano kiln in Hinagu.

Eat

 * Chikuwa, a type of fish sausage
 * Zabon, a citrus fruit.
 * Basashi, raw horsemeat served with soy and garlic.
 * Ayu, sweetfish from the Kuma River is a local specialty.
 * Unagi, eel, locally produced.
 * Karashi renkon, lotus root stuffed with hot mustard, is famous in the area.

Go next

 * Itsuki
 * Ashikita
 * Kuma
 * Tsunagi
 * Minakami
 * Hitoyoshi
 * Yamato
 * Misato
 * Uki

title: Yatsushiro


text:
Yazd

Yazd is a desert city in central Iran and the capital of the Yazd province. It is an ancient city dating back to the Sassanian period (224-651 AD). It is nicknamed "the City of Windcatchers" in Persian, and in 2017, this city of 530,000 people (2016) was listed by as a.

Get in
Yazd is midway between Isfahan and Kerman, 689 km (427 miles) south east of Tehran. Yazd is well connected to the rest of the country by planes, trains and buses.

By bus
Buses come from Shiraz (300,000 rials, 5-6 hours), Na'in (150,000 rials, 2½ hours), Isfahan (260,000 rials, 4 hours).

Getting there: public buses depart every 15 min and cost 10,000 rials (the bus stop is by a little white hut, in front of the bus station) to the pretty close to the city centre. From there you can get a bus virtually to any part of Yazd, including old town area. Taxi: there is a taxi booth in front of the bus station, taxi to the old town costs 150,000 rials (as of 2017).

By plane
There are International flights to Dubai, and daily flights to Tehran and Mashhad.

By train
Yazd stands on the railway line connecting Tehran and Kerman (6 hr), passing Kashan (3-4 hr). Several trains per day including one overnight one. There is also one train daily which passes Isfahan (3-4 hr). There is no train connection to Shiraz.

By taxi
Taxi to Na'in costs 1,200,000 rials (besides, it's possible to go there via Chak Chak and Meybod sights which will cost then - about 2,000,000 rials), to Isfahan - 2,200,000 rials.

Get around
Most sights are in the old town near the Friday Mosque. You can easily walk between them on foot and enjoy the rabbit warren of old passages and buildings as you do so. Get a good map from your hotel.

By foot
Most places in the old town are within easy walking distance from each other.

By bus
Local buses are also available, work with a pre-paid card.

By taxi
Taxis are inexpensive, 50,000-100,000 rials per ride anywhere inside the city. Motorcycle taxis are another fast and cheap way to move around the city but try to settle on a price beforehand.

Snapp (like Uber) is cheap and efficient.

See

Do

 * Walk around in the historic neighbourhoods and relax in the parks. You can also hike up in the beautiful mountains of Yazd and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. If you are the more social type, relax in the cafes and chat with local Iranians. Most likely, they will be very interested in talking with you.

Buy
Yazd is famous in Iran for its various handicrafts, such as carpet, silk fabrics and cashmere. A good place for these is bazaar, where also can be found snacks such as nougat and cashews. It is also famous for its sweets and confectionery most notable of which is haj khalife located near the chaqmaq gate.

Eat
For a friendlier and more cultural atmosphere try Persian restaurants. Many restaurants serve the standard Iranian kebabas. There are a few international restaurants in Yazd which serve Italian, Indian, Arabian and Mexican food.

The traditional restaurant and tea house of Kohan Hotel serves various Iranian traditional dishes such as fessenjun, gheime as well as some European and Indian dishes. It has a nice atmosphere and is located near the Alexander Prison.

Drink
For typical drinks available in Iran, see Iran

Sleep
It is best to stay in the old town near the Friday Mosque, from which you can walk to most sights. There are many decent hotels to choose from. A number of traditional houses have been converted into atmospheric hotels. Some are good and others not so much. Many of them offer clean comfortable rooms encircling peaceful central courtyards where you can eat, drink tea or puff away on a ghalyan while gazing at the sky.

Go next

 * Isfahan — the ancient city which is a little bit more cultural and beautiful than Yazd
 * Na’in — a small desert town north of Yazd
 * Varzaneh — town northeast of Yazd with a beautiful desert 12 km away from it. Besides, it has number of historical buildings

title: Yazd


text:
Yazd (province)

Yazd is a province in Central Iran; Yazd, an ancient oasis city that is a, is the capital.

Cities
The city of Yazd has over half a million people, roughly half the population of the province. It is situated at an oasis where Dasht-e Kavir and the Dasht-e Lut deserts meet.

Get in
You can fly to Shahid Sadooghi International Airport, near the city of Yazd. There are also trains.

Travellers on today's version of the Istanbul to New Delhi overland route pass through Yazd as they swing south from central Iran, avoiding Afghanistan and heading for Zahedan and the border with Pakistan. There are several roads; the most used comes from Isfahan.

See also the Yazd city article.

title: Yazd (province)


text:
Yazoo City

Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi in the Delta region.

Get in
Amtrak serves Yazoo City on its City of New Orleans line through Chicago, Memphis, Jackson, and New Orleans. The is at W Broadway and N Water St.

Go next

 * Belzoni
 * Greenwood
 * Jackson
 * Memphis, Tennessee

title: Yazoo City


text:
Yeghegnadzor

Yeghegnadzor (Եղեգնաձոր) is a town in Southern Armenia. This small city is a good spot from which to explore the surrounding sites for a few days, and in a fantastic area for hiking and spelunking.

Understand
The city is right by the main north-south highway and has comfortable accommodation and is a very typical town in Armenia for those who want an experience outside of Yerevan. Things to see in the area include the Areni wine country, the spectacular canyon and monastery in Noravank, the impressive Smbatabert Fortress/Tsakhats Kar Monastery area, the old Silk Road caravanserai of Selim, sitting on top of the world, lot of other monuments and a number of caves and cavern systems.

The name Yeghegnadzor consists of two Armenian words: yegheg (Armenian: եղեգ) meaning cane, and dzor (Armenian: ձոր) meaning valley. Thus, the name of the town means "valley of canes".

History
The settlement was first mentioned as Pondzatagh during the 5th century, however the had been settled long before this. The remains of the Urartian fortress near the town dates back to the 7th century BC.

During the Middle Ages, the Silk Road passed through the area. Part of it still links the town of Martuni with Yeghegnadzor. Many significant churches, monastic complexes, bridges and caravanserais were built in the region between the 10th and 13th centuries, when Yeghegnadzor was part of the Kingdom of Syunik under the rule of the Siunia dynasty.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Eastern Armenia fell under the Safavid Persian rule. Between the 16th and 17th centuries the region was a frequent battlefield between Turkic and Iranian tribes. As a result, many significant monuments and prosperous villages were destroyed and the population was displaced. In 1747, Yeghegnadzor became part of the newly-formed Nakhichevan Khanate. By the beginning of the 19th century, Yeghgnadzor was known as Keshishkend.

Following the end of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28, it became part of the Russian Empire. Between 1918 and 1920 it was part of short-lived Republic of Armenia. After the Sovietization of Armenia, the town became one of the predominant centres of the resistance against the Soviet rule and formed the unrecognized Republic of Mountainous Armenia. However, after falling to the Bolsheviks in July 1921, it became part of the Armenian SSR.

The town was known as Keshishkend until 1935 when it was renamed Mikoyan after the Bolshevik leader Anastas Mikoyan. On 6 December 1956, the town was renamed Yeghegnadzor, restoring its historical name.

During the Soviet period, Yeghegnadzor was one of the industrial centres of the Armenian SSR, but today the economy of the town is based on the construction sector and food-processing industry.

Orientation
Yeghegnadzor straddles both banks of the Gladzor River, a tributary of the Arpa River, by the main north-south highway. Located at 1,194 metres above sea level, the surrounding the lower and medium highlands are mainly semi-deserts. The town is immediately bordered by the village of Gladzor to the north.

Climate
The town has a hot-summer humid continental climate with average annual rainfalls of 400 mm and mountain-valley winds. The average air temperature in January is 5-6°C, with a coldest temperature of -22°C and highest of +35°C in July. The climate is mild with snowy winters and warm summers.

Get in
All transport heading north or south in the region passes by Yeghegnadzor on the main highway.

By bus
Marshrutkas and buses can be caught going as far as the Iranian border or Nagorno-Karabakh to the south.

Yerevan
Marshrutka and share taxis from Yerevan to Yeghegnadzor leave between 08:00 and 18:00 from a street close to the Gortsaranayin metro station. If you’re coming from the Yerevan city centre, it’s one stop beyond Sasuntsi David, the metro station for the main train station.

Once you get off at Gortsaranayin, exit the metro and head right. Continue walking straight ahead along the road pictured below until you hit a roundabout. Once there, go left across the street, and you should see some marshrutkas lined up across the street. There is a cafe and several small convenience store stalls here as well. You’ll most likely have drivers asking you if you’re looking for Yeghegnadzor once you’re in the area. Marshrutkas typically leave every hour, but it’s more likely they leave once mostly full. It is best to get there before 11:00, otherwise there may not be more.

The ride should cost you 1,200 dram and take 1½-2 hr.

Buses and marshrutkas to other destinations in the south of Armenia (such as Goris or Stepanakert), depart from a bus station on Sevan St adjacent to Yerevan's Sasuntsi Davit metro station. These will have to pass Yeghegnadzor, and some may be willing to drop you off for the normal fare to Yeghegnadzor or for an extra 200 to 300 dram, instead of paying the full fare to the ultimate destination.

In Yeghegnadzor, marshrutka to Yerevan (1,200 dram) leave when full from by the triangular intersection of Mikoyan Street (H47) with the main highway. There is a bus station 100 m away on Mikoyan Street but it is not used by the marshrutkas.

Southern destinations
Marshrutkas heading from Yeghegnadzor to southern destinations such as (Goris) operate from the main highway on the other side from its intersection with Mikoyan Street (H47). There are often a couple of people standing and waiting, and some taxi drivers as well.

Marshrutkas to Goris, Stepanakert and Meghri will start driving past Yeghegnadzor around 09:30 each day. There will be several marshrutkas each hour 10:00-13:00. After 13:00, things slow down. There likely won’t be any more marshrutkas after 14:00. (As of Apr 23: only 2 buses to Goris, 1 to Kapan, they pass through around 10:30, 16:30 and 10:00 (Kapan))

When you see a marshrutka coming, flag it down and ask if it is going in your direction. Do not be disheartened if they do not stop—it is because they do not have enough space.

Make sure to show up a little early to ensure you have time to catch one that still has space. The earlier, the better. A marshrutka from Yeghegnadzor to Goris will cost 2,500 dram. The journey is approximately 2 hr.

By car
The M-2 Motorway that connects Armenia from north to south, passes through the town. On the other hand, Yeghegnadzor is domestically connected with other parts of Vayots Dzor through the H-40 and H-47 Roads.

It is a 1½-hr drive from Yerevan. A private taxi is 100 dram/km. Taxis charge 12-15,000 dram to Tatev or Goris.

On foot
Walking around much of Yeghegnadzor is nice, as is hiking to some of the closer sights.

By bus
Marshrutka and shared taxis from local village destinations arrive at the bus and taxi stop in Yeghegnadzor at the top end of Narekatsky St in the morning, carrying people from the region who work in town. They return to their destinations in the late afternoon.

Hourly marshrutkas to Vayk (200 dram) and one 14:00 bus to Jermuk (700 dram) also depart from by the intersection of Mikoyan Street (H47) with the main highway.

By road
A car or taxi to further afield sites is quite helpful however.

Taxis can be found by the intersection of Mikoyan Street (H47) with the main highway. A taxi from the main entrance to the guesthouse area (in the northwestern part of the town) should cost about 500 dram.

Taxis cost 3,000 dram one way, 5,000 dram wait and return to Noravank; 7,000 dram to Yeghegis, 12,000 dram to Jermuk, 1,000-2,000 dram to Shatin or Vernashen.

Many car owners act as taxi drivers and make a nice conversation.

By thumb
There is only one main highway running to the south of Armenia so it is not a problem to try and hitchhike. Armenians outside of Yerevan are very friendly. If you try to hitch stand on the side of the road a little outside of town on the highway leading to Yeghegnadzor and hold out your hand. Do not be surprised if they driver who picks you up invites you to his home for horovats (Armenian BBQ).

See

Other sites
Smaller sites if you have the time or are in the area.

Do

Buy

 * Wine – This being Armenia's wine country, you can buy wine in huge jugs on the side of the road, or bottles from a winery. You can also buy young wine, which is not very fermented yet, called majar.
 * Wineries:
 * Areni Wine Factory,
 * Getnatoun Winery,
 * Hin Areni Winery,
 * Momik Winery and Wine Cube,
 * Old Bridge Winery
 * Trinity Canyon Vineyards.
 * Yeghegnadzor Buried Cheese – This traditional cheese is made nowhere else in the world. Goats milk and herbs are mixed and sealed in a clay pot and buried in the mountains for 6 months, at which point it is salty and sharp. Cheese connoisseurs love this, and you can buy some to take with you.
 * Artwork from Artyom Yerkat – Artyom Ghazaryan is a professional artisan working with various materials but especially he creates original works using special metal techniques. He doesn't have a shop but his house is also his studio. You can call in advance to see if he accepts visitors. Tel. +37477752215, FB. www.facebook.com/artyom.yerkat

Eat
There is a large food court/buffet restaurant on the northern side of highway about 150 metres to the east from its junction with Momilk St.

There are many barbecue restaurants, many of them with primarily outdoor seating along the highway near Yeghegnadzor, along the Arpa River. In Yeghegnadzor there is a small new restaurant/cafe which opened in 2006 in a central location, with indoor or patio seating.

Drink
Wherever you can eat, you can drink in these parts. Drinking means wine, vodka or beer, or homemade liqueurs.

Sleep

Go next

 * Goris — the last major town in Armenia for travellers continuing to Nagorno-Karabakh and also entering point to Tatev Monastery.
 * Jermuk — spa town where much of the country's mineral water comes from.
 * Kapan — not the most interesting town. Vahanavank Monastery is in its close proximity.
 * Sisian — good base for visiting Ughtasar mountain and thousands of petroglyphs on top of it.

title: Yeghegnadzor


text:
Yei

Yei is a city in the Equatoria region of South Sudan.

Understand
Yei is a business hub near the borders with Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, which attracts many traders. Roads are being re-built and the airport ensures the steady flow of goods. However, activities are hampered by the ongoing conflict with the Lord's Resistance Army. A curfew is in place during nights and the neighboring countryside is still prone to violence.

Get in
The small Yei Airport is served by regular flights from Entebbe International Airport. These commercial flights are operated by EagleAir Uganda. NGO and Missionary personnel are also served by the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Charter services may also be available from Kampala.

The road from Kaya at the Ugandan border has been repaired, reducing travel time to about two to three hours. However, many other roads are in bad shape.

Stay safe
See the warning on the South Sudan article for information on the security situation.

title: Yei


text:
Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg (Russian: Екатеринбу́рг yee-kuh-tee-reen-BOORG) is the capital of Sverdlovsk Oblast of Russia. A city of over 1.3 million inhabitants, it is a center of industry and culture in the broader Urals region, and the 4th largest city in the country after Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Novosibirsk. As such, it is one of Russia's most popular cities for foreign tourists, mainly known for its architecture.

Understand
The city was founded in 1723 by the order of Peter the Great as a metallurgical factory. It was named after the wife of Peter the Great, Yekaterina. In 1918, the last czar family was imprisoned, and later executed, a house in Yekaterinburg which was later demolished; the Church on the Blood now occupies the former site of the house. During World War II, the city grew rapidly as industries and people were relocated east to escape the war. Between 1924 and 1991, the city was known as Sverdlovsk (Свердловск), named after Communist Party leader Yakov Sverdlov and signs with this name still abound, particularly at the train station.

The city retains its metallurgical roots and the metal industry is the largest contributor to the economy.

The city is next to the Ural Mountains, which divide Europe from Asia. This border is marked by several symbolic monuments.

By train
See Russia for general advice on traveling in Russia by train.

Tourist information and maps

You can either buy a street map from one of the many newsstands and shops in the train stations, print out a street map of Yekaterinburg, or pick up a free detailed street map from the Ekaterinburg Tourist Information Service at 8 Marta St. #21, office #2, in the city centre.

By metro
Yekaterinburg has 1 underground metro line, connecting the city centre (the stop is near the Circus) to Uralmash, a large industrial and residential area, with a stop near the main railway station. The metro is popular with locals because it is quick and inexpensive, costing ₽32 per journey. The stations are impressive, decorated with native Ural stones, granite and marble.

All stations are open between 06:00 and 00:00. Train frequency on weekdays in rush hour is 4-5 minutes; all other times and weekends it is 8-11 minutes.

Metro stations from north to south:

Tram
Yekaterinburg has the densest tram network in Russia. Pay by contactless bank cards or cash to conductors. Use Yandex or 2gis app for route info.

Suburban rail
Stations from North to South

Embankment of the City Pond

Do

 * Cross-country skiing: the trails stretch away for miles. There are some downhill skiing resorts as well. It will take you approximately 25 minutes to get to the nearest of them from the center of the city.
 * Watch football at Yekaterinburg Arena, which hosted matches in the 2018 World Cup. The home team are FC Ural who play in the Russian Premier League, the top tier of Russian football - in 2018 they narrowly avoided relegation. The stadium dates back to 1957; it was upgraded and expanded for the World Cup but its capacity has now reduced to 23,000. The Arena is 3 km southwest of city centre, take tram or bus to Kommunarov Square.

Learn

 * Alliance Française.

Markets

Leather in Russia is considered some of the best in Europe; handbags and wallets are of especially high quality. Gold jewellery, while expensive, is also very good. Markets, such as the Chinese market, are good for cheap bargains.

Eat
Many cafés and restaurants provide the usual mix of Russian, Japanese and Italian food, but the level of international cuisine is not that high.

Budget
You can pay hourly rates at the resting rooms (Komnaty Otdykha) at the main train station. To get there, walk to the eastern end of the station to the last and small set of glass doors. First door on the right should lead you to a set of stairs which will take you there.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇲 Armenia
 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * Democratic Republic of the Congo
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇲🇳 Mongolia
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * Vietnam

Visa centers

 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇬🇷 Greece 🇲🇹 Malta 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇱🇻 Latvia
 * 🇨🇦 Canada

title: Yekaterinburg


text:
Yelagiri

Yelagiri (also spelt Elagiri on some signboards) is a town in Tamil Nadu, a state in the south of India. Yelagiri, at a height of 920 metres above sea level, stands majestically amidst four mountains. This is a hill station with a salubrious climate prevailing throughout the year so that winters do not keep visitors away. The main inhabitants of the area are the tribals who live in the 14 small villages which comprise Yelagiri. These tribals are engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, etc. - all the occupations of rural hill folk. Their customs and habits, and especially the structure of their houses is unique and attracts a number of tourists to this hill station.

By car
There are no petrol stations in Yelagiri, thus you have to fill up the tank at the last available petrol station in the plains (however, try to avoid HP petrol bunk in Poneri because they don't give pure petrol). Except for a few tire changers there are no vehicle repair shops in the hills.

Also, take your first-aid kit along with your regular medicines, if any, with you. There is a government primary health centre, and a private clinic (in which the doctor is from CMC vellore). The nearest health centre is in Tirupattur.

From Bangalore
Yelagiri is about 150 km from Bangalore and 250 km from Chennai (Madras), good for a four hour bike ride with breaks along the way. Take the NH7 out of Bangalore towards Hosur, turn towards Chennai (onto NH46) at Krishnagiri and continue until you get just before Vaniyambadi. You can see the Hills from quite a distance (on your right). From a break in the highway that comes approx 2 km after the toll gate, turn right into the underpass road that takes you to Tirupathur. Continue some 5 km and at Ponneri Junction take a left to Yelagiri Hills. The routes are all marked with signboards in English.

From Chennai
Yelagiri is about 258 km from Chennai-Tambaram. Take the Poonamalee High Road out of the city to Ponamalee Town. From Poonamalee, take the Bangalore highway towards Vellore. The distance to Vellore is about 140 km and the route passes through Sriperumbudur, Walajapet. Vellore would be a good place to plan a break, there are a lot of eating places right on the highway. From Vellore continue on to Ambur and then towards Vaniyambadi. On the highway about 45 km from the third(counting from Chennai) toll station, watch out for a signboard for "Elagiri - 22 km". Take a left at this exit. It's easy to miss this left and if you overshoot this you would reach the Vaniyambadi toll station in about 1km. Continue on this road (SH18) till you reach Ponneri junction which has Thirupathur straight and Yelagiri on the left. Watch out for this one as it is easy to miss. (On the left, you'll see a big sign board 'Tamilnadu Tourism Department Welcomes You'. Turn left at this junction, there's a sign board pointing towards Yelagiri.)

The roads are well punctuated with signboards in English, and the roads especially the Chennai-Vaniyambadi stretch are excellent (in 2007). It is fairly safe, watch out for the occasional truck that changes lanes abruptly. The last petrol pump is after you turn left at Ponneri, a little before you start on the ghat section. There are no petrol pumps on the hills.

There are 14 hairpin bends on the ghat road from Ponneri to Yelagiri and the road is pretty narrow so you can't actually park a car to enjoy the view except at some of the wider hairpin bends. Bikes won't have this problem though.

By train
If you are coming by train from Bangalore, Chennai or Coimbatore you have to get down at Jolarpettai Junction.

Public transport
If you prefer to take public transport, buses come from Thirupattur and Jolarpet. You can take a taxi also from these places. You can negotiate for about ₹1200 (2011) to drop you in Yelagiri Hills from Jolarpettai Junction.

Get around
As for getting around you may have to make your own arrangements for commuting in the hills. There are auto-rickshaws and a few taxis for hire, but it is a great place for trekkers.

Each village has a Murugar Temple, small and big. At Nilavoor there is a Devi temple for Kadavu-Nachiyar, which opens for puja only on Fridays between 11AM and noon. The villagers around believe this Goddess is very powerful and throng the place in good numbers on Fridays.

See
There are 14 hairpin bends named after Tamil poets (Pari Valivu, Ori Valivu, Kamban Valivu, etc.); they lead to Yellagiri Hills. There is a sort of an observatory, after 12th bend with a telescope pointing towards the plains. It is difficult to park a car here owing to the narrow roads. Bikes should be fine.

On the way to the hills, you can see lots of small animals like monkeys, ox, goats, etc. Do not feed these animals as they can be dangerous. Don't forget to carry binoculars with you.

Trekking

 * Swami Malai, (not to be confused with the town of Swamimalai, near Kumbakonam) the highest peak, soaring to 4,338 ft from Mangalam, a hamlet at its base, takes the cake. Its an easy climb of about an hour with infrequent breaks (about a 1000-foot climb). Smaller peaks like Javadu Hills, Palamathi Hills and others are an easier climb. Start early though and be back before 9AM, for once the sun climbs up it can get rather uncomfortable.
 * Jalagamparai Waterfalls - a 5-km trek from Yelagiri downhill. It's a tough trek, but the view from the sides of the mountain, of the valley, is truly rewarding. Winter and April-May are probably not good times to visit the falls, as there may be no water this time of the year. The tourist taxi operator may give you false information that there has been rain in this area and there may be water in the falls. His objective is to get money for the number of kilometres he runs the vehicle and not tourists' interest and pleasure. Just check this with somebody before you make a trip to this place. Otherwise it is a wasted trip. Especially if you go in the hot sun between 10AM to 12:30PM you will get headache. At the same time if one is interested in seeing the villages and the green pastures it may be fine. Next to the falls there is a temple at the top.
 * Uphill for 4 km can be fun when in groups. Don’t forget to carry water, you will not find a drop of water to drink once you reach the hilltop. You can see the clouds touching the lush green hills in early morning- an amazing sight. Make sure you wear sneakers as the trek can be a treacherous climb. You can hire locals from the village to help you as guide on your trek for around ₹300. It takes 2-3 hr to climb the top of the hill, depending on your speed and agility. It is suggested to take frequent pit stops and enjoy the greenery. You can follow a radio tower beyond the Samaritan School on the hill top as you ascend- you can also follow the pathway laid by locals to guide your way up. Once you reach the top, you will see a small temple near the radio tower. Legend claims that the god in the temple saves people from being attacked by bears and evil spirits.  You can climb a huge rock near the tower with the help of an iron ladder to take a breathtaking view of the valley beneath, nestled between the lush green forest and mountains- a true nature lover's paradise. You can find a few shortcuts routes downhill-- true trekkers can try out these.

Boating on Punganur Lake

 * This is an artificial lake, excavated in an area of 57 m². The Elagiri Hills Development and Tourism Promotion Society runs the Boat Club, with pedalling and rowing boats. There is a newly laid florid cultural garden with a pathway along the bund with a panoramic view of the lake on one side and the garden on the other. A connecting bridge leads the pathway around the lake. The pathway around the lake is particularly good for birding. There is also a small watch tower constructed next to a tree which can be climbed. Even though the water is not clear, the lake is pretty clean.

Science/educational

 * Vainu Bappu Solar Observatory (Elagiri): One of the largest solar observatories, it is in Kavalur, 35 km from Thiruppathur, near Yelagiri. Prior permission is required to visit this observatory.
 * Farm visits: Rose farms provide an interesting detour.

For children

 * A well laid out park on a 6-acre land adjacent to the lake, is established with varieties of children's play areas installed within the park. There is also a small zoo. But no animals could be seen there in January 2006.

For everyone

 * There is a "Kodao Vizha ground" which is a lovely ground with beautiful paths for walking. This is now be updated [May 08] to the Nature park . A lovely 10-acre campus with an artificial fall, an aquarium, musical fountain in the evenings and amazing landscaping. It has 2 shows in musical fountain 7PM and 8PM. Very nice with gallery like setup and playing some 4 songs each in Hindi & Tamil. The latest addition is the Nilavoor lake - more of a pond, with a few boats. Don't miss the ancient hero stines featured in the ancient temple - each of an archer pointing towards the 4 directions.

Buy
Home made honey and jack fruit (on season) are available in Yellagiri Hills. The Home made Honey can be bought from YMCA with good quality and taste. You can trust it to be original. Otherwise you have to check whether its original. There is a small house near YMCA, where you can get pure malai thein (mountain honey).

The weekly market (Sandhai) assembles in Athanavoor on Fridays. Again you will find the usual modern cheap plastic wares from the plains are sold, along with a few agricultural products from the hills.

ATMs
There is an ATM near the State Bank of India branch in Athanavur village.

Eat
Food is not a problem in Yelagiri, except if you are trekking. Otherwise there are a number of eateries offering south/north Indian food at reasonable rates. Branded soft drinks and water bottles are available. Look out for jackfruit - this area has plenty of it available especially in the summer months, and the fruit here is considered very good. Also, there are lots of fruits available each season like guava, custard apple, etc. Try to bargain as much as possible as the locals are very keen. On the contrary, you will also get some fruits near Swamimalai trekking spot where the locals will surprise you by giving you more than what you expect.

A few food joints serve authentic Tandoori/Chinese/Indian food
 * Tandoori Hut on Boat House Road (Next to Boat House Main Entrance)
 * The Hotel Hills on the main Rd

Drink
There is a TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor outlet just opposite the entrance to the lake. So have no fears and you do not have to carry your liquor unless and until you are travelling from Bangalore where you have the option of more varieties and you would not want limit yourselves to the limited options available at the TASMAC Wine Shops in Tamil Nadu. Also, immediately after you take the right at Ponneri, you have another TASMAC Wine Shop on the right hand side.

Sleep
Finding a place to stay without advance booking during weekends is difficult. It is advisable to enquire at a number of hotels beforehand and book in advance. The best time to visit is during weekdays when most hotels are practically empty and hence offer huge discounts. A number of hotels big and small are available on the hill.

There are also a few homestays though these are unlikely to be listed online. The rates for hotel accommodation range from ₹500 to ₹3000 per room. Make sure you carry enough money (in cash) for your expenses, as the hotels here do not accept credit cards.

Connect
BSNL, Vodafone and Airtel have connectivity in Yelagiri.

Go next
It is better to move out during the daytime. The hairpin bent road that takes you down (and up) is narrow and there are possibilities of traffic jams due to big buses.
 * Kolar
 * Hogenakkal

title: Yelagiri


text:
Yelizovo

Yelizovo (Russian: ́Елизово, YEH-lee-zuh-vuh) is a small city of 40,000 on the Avacha RIver near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka, Russia most notable for hosting the only commercial airport on Kamchatka. Yelizovo was founded as a village in 1848, named Stary Ostrog, renamed Zavoyko in 1897 after the Russian General who led the famous defense of Petropavlovsk against an Anglo-French siege, and renamed Yelizovo in 1923. Today, the city exists mainly to service the airport, but also is a center for the fishing industry (albeit a far smaller one than the capital).

The city spans the Acha River, and it's useful to think of it as two cities—the airport/military zone, and the actual city of Yelizovo across the river. The city center (across the river) is around the market and along ulitsa Zavoika (ул. Завойка) south of the intersection with ulitsa Lenina (ул. Ленина). Yelizovo is often used as a base for tourists exploring the surrounding areas, but the service sector outside of the airport is not used to non-Russian tourists, and it is not easy to find English speakers.

By plane
Yelizovo is home to the only commercial airport on Kamchatka, the. There are regular flights between Petropavovsk-Kamchatsky and Moscow (Aeroflot, Transaero), Saint Petersburg (Rossiya), Novosibirsk (S7, Rossiya), Irkutsk (S7), and Khabarovsk (S7). Korean Airlines offers frequent charter flights from Incheon in summers.

By road
There is a road connecting Yelizovo with Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky ( away) and to several small communities. Bus #104 runs between the two cities for ₽30.

Get around
There is a regular public transportation. A taxi is useful to get away from the airport and to a hotel or the city center (ask them to take you to the market), but otherwise the city is easy enough to cover on foot.

See and do
Yelizovo is not an attraction in itself—aside from nice views of the Koryakovskaya and Avachinsky volcanoes to the northeast, there's nothing to see in the city at all. Just outside the city is where you will find the main attractions: Gora Moroznaya (Frosty Mountain) and the Blue Lakes Nature Park (природный парк Голубые озёра). The former is Kamchatka's main ski resort, with reasonably well developed infrastructure including lifts (the Russian Olympic team spends time here), an easy taxi ride just outside the city. Very popular with the locals, Gora Moroznaya might be the only place in Kamchatka where you'll have to wait in a line; the advantage, of course, being that skiing here is a lot less expensive than hiring a chopper to take you heli-skiing off in the volcanoes. Runs throughout the winter (November–March).

The Blue Lakes is a nature park—beautiful as Kamchatka's nature tends to be—centered around a system of lakes, that sparkle blue and extraordinarily reflective, owing to their bottom ice and crystal clear water. Indeed, they reflect the blue sky so strongly that you yourself will turn a bluish hue on approaching the shore. The nature park is located just beyond Gora Moroznaya (and is a destination better enjoyed during the summer months, when the ski slopes are closed). You can tour the park by simply trekking alongside the stream that connects the lakes, and climbing up the side of a mountain to take in the views. It would, however, be wise to bring a guide who knows the area, at least one that will drop you off and pick you up, so you don't get stranded.

Buy
The vast majority of travelers will pass through Yelizovo without a thought to commerce beyond the walls of the airport, where you can find food, booze, and, like any airport, souvenirs. For those that are curious to venture into the small city itself, there is, well, not much! Virtually all shopping of any kind to be done is at the, (Елизовский рынок), which is just southwest of the center of the city (that is, the non-airport center on the west side of the Avacha river) (ул. Завойко, 2). It's not a terribly large market, and does not have souvenirs (they'll be shocked to see tourists there at all), but chances are you'll find any essentials there. If you don't, just a block down ulitsa Lenina is the city's one grocery store (Универмаг "Вито").

Eat and drink
For food, there is but one moderate restaurant in the city. (Actually, that's a lot for Yelizovo—it's no small feat to keep a restaurant alive here.) The only other restaurant option is the pricier hotel restaurant and cocktail bar at the Bel-Kam-Tur. There is also a small cafe (Кафе "Виктор" Cafe Victor) at the market.

If you head a little ways down the road to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, there's a little cafe on the road:

Sleep
Yelizovo has two hotels, both near the river, each quite nice, if modest.

Internet

 * On-life cafe, 14 Lenina st.

Go next

 * Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — unless you are touring with a company based in Yelizovo, the next natural destination is Kamchatka's capital and largest city by far, which is a bit more of an interesting place to hang out, and which has a great deal more in terms of tourist infrastructure, including most of the tour companies catering to foreign tourists.
 * The Yelizovo bus station (53°11'6"N  158°23'19"E) serves routes to Termalny via Paratunka once an hour, Esso early in the morning.
 * Pimchakh (Пимчах) is a reconstruction of a traditional Itelmen village serving as a cultural center for the Itelmens (original inhabitants of southern Kamchatka, now mostly assimillated, with their language on the verge of extinction). The camp is located in beautiful countryside at the base of Ostraya Gora ("Steep Mountain" in Russian, due to the peculiarly conical shape), a few kilometers beyond Sosnovka village (Сосновка). It is possible to visit the place independently, if you're an adventurous traveller. One first needs to get to Sosnovka. Sosnovka can be reached by infrequent public buses from Yelizovo bus station. There are also more frequent public buses that go to the Sosnovka/Nikolaevka intersection on the main road between Yelizovo and Termalny. From there, you can walk on the paved road to Sosnovka (around ). In Sosnovka, one has to find the dirt road starting at Tatyana shop (Татьяна) next to the bus stop. You can then walk on that dirt road for 1.5-2 km through the cultivated agricultural land. At some point, the fields on the right end, giving way to the forest. Behind the last field, one takes a right turn to another dirt road. That place is marked by a small ПИМЧАХ sign. From there, it's a nice walk for a couple more kilometers to the Itelmen cultural center. Google map

title: Yelizovo