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Bușteni

Bușteni is in the Carpathian Mountains in the Muntenia region of Romania. It is the main "entry point" to Bucegi Mountains, a high and scenic mountain range that attracts many tourists.

Get in
You can get to Bușteni by car, bus, minibus, bicycle, motocycle or by train. You could also fly to Bucharest and from there rent a car, or take the bus, minibus or take the train.

Busteni is on the DN1 (national road 1) and getting in and out by road is very easy. The road is in good condition, but can get very slippery quickly; be careful in winter.

There are also buses linking Bușteni to major cities (Bucharest, Brasov, Ploiesti, Predeal, etc.) and nearby resorts (Sinaia, Predeal, Poiana Brasov).

By train, Bușteni is situated on the main track linking Bucharest and Brasov, and all trains stop here (P,A,R,IC).

Get around
Taxis are an inexpensive way to get around the town (5 lei from the train station to hotel). Buses also run between nearby towns.

See

 * There are no attractions in the town itself. Most people come to hike in the Bucegi Mountains. There are many scenic trails - beware as some of these are quite dangerous and difficult (e.g. Jepii Mici)
 * A cable car from Bușteni takes you to the top plateau of Bucegi where you can see rocks carved by the wind (Babele and Sphinx). The cable car can have enormous queues (around 3 hours of wait time per direction in July 2018).
 * Heroes' Monument a huge cross to honor the fallen in World War I, on the top of Caraiman peak, is about a 45-minute hike away from where the cable car arrives at the top of the mountain.

Do

 * Hiking in the beautiful Bucegi National Park. There are a lot of picturesque marked trails. You can buy maps directly from Bușteni, Sinaia or Predeal or from mountain shops in Bucharest. Also there are smartphone apps with maps of the region (Muntii Nostri). Most hiking routes are closed in winter because of their difficulty but they are a must in the summer. But be careful to have proper equipment and keep an eye out for bears.
 * Coştila, one of the biggest climbing areas in Romania, lies close to Bușteni. It is a paradise for multi-pitch conglomerate climbing with walls ranging from 100 m or less to a little over 300 m lots of routes for all levels in a beautiful alpine environment. Accommodation is free at the Coştila Refuge but you must bring your own food, sleeping and cooking gear. There also is a water source close by (you will see it while hiking to the refuge).
 * In the winter you can practice winter sports on the Kalinderu ski slope. There are several equipment rental stores with fair prices. Also you can rent ATVs.

Eat
There are a lot of good places to eat here: restaurants, fast-food, pizza, delivery also. Here is a pizza delivery phone number: 0244 322 388

Sleep
There are a lot of sleeping areas. You can find hotels from 1 to 4 stars and room rentals (from 45 lei per night, double room).

Stay safe
The phone number for mountain rescue is 0SALVAMONT (+4 0725826668 - +4 being the national phone code).

title: Bușteni


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Public transit in Israel

Buses are the most common form of public transportation in Israel for Israelis and foreigners alike. They are generally frequent and modern, but often slow.

Since the late 1990s, trains have changed from a niche element of public transit to a popular network covering most major cities: ridership increased more than tenfold from 1996 to 2016 and keeps rising. However, as many train stations are located awkwardly in highway medians out of town, you'll often have to add a local bus ride to your train trips.

Local public transit was limited to buses for the most part throughout the 20th century. The main exception being Haifa's Carmelit (opened in 1959). In the 21st century, the two biggest cities added light rail to the mix – Jerusalem's first line opened in 2011 and Tel Aviv finally opened its first light rail line in 2023. Both systems are undergoing expansion and there are even plans for a fully underground Tel Aviv Metro.

Rav-Kav, a public transit smartcard, ties the whole system together. Buses must and trains can be paid by Rav-Kav or a payment app. It is strongly advised that any traveler to Israel get a Rav-Kav, ideally when they arrive at Ben Gurion Airport or Ramon Airport. You can also use a supported mobile ticketing app to pay for your travels without a Rav-Kav card. You cannot use cash to pay for rides directly to drivers.

Operators
Every bus route in Israel is operated by a single bus company. Egged and Dan used to be the dominant operators, but they have been replaced by other companies in an effort to increase competition. In order to find the route you need and which company operates it, see the section below. Trains are operated by Israel Railways, and the Jerusalem light rail system is operated by Cfir. While buses cover most of the country, the rail network ends at Beer Sheva and Dimona. If you wish to go to Eilat without flying, you'll have to take a bus.

The quality of service of the newer bus companies varies from very good to poor, not only between companies but also between regions and routes of the same company.

Bus operators include:

Stations
Major cities have Central Bus Stations (תחנה מרכזית, "takhana merkazit"), which are the terminals where most intercity routes begin and end. Most of these stations have been rebuilt as air-conditioned malls. Generally, many city bus routes run on the street just outside the central bus station. Sometimes these stations are in a city's downtown, but often they are on the edge of a city, next to a main road to minimize travel time.

While the Ottoman and British colonial authorities built some train lines, most train stations date to the 1990s or later, and they are often located out of town in highway medians. Train stations are usually served by local buses which will get you to your final destination. In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem the main railway stations are connected to the light rail network. In Haifa there is a Carmelit connection, but as Carmelit is rather short, that is of limited utility.

Fares and tickets
Fares are relatively low by Western standards. As of Aug 2022, a single nationwide fare system reform has been introduced, valid for every transit operator in the country and dependent on aerial distance covered from boarding to alighting stop. There is no more mixup of over 190 different fares that were different from one operator to another on same distances on intercity rides. Train rides are slightly more expensive than buses.

See the English-language fare guide for updated information. There is a lot to read here;
 * Periodic passes are valid on any method of public transportation available with the appropriate pass, so you can freely interchange bus and Israel Railways if you have a pass that includes Israel Railways.
 * Distance level is counted per each ride separately, so it's entirely possible to travel half a country with a short distance pass, provided you alight and interchange transport for a new ride of the pass' distance level. Pay attention to the status of the interchange stop (boarding only, alighting only, boarding and alighting) per each route used on such a travel.
 * You can use this page for prices of periodic passes and their coverage distance.
 * For rail fares see the train tickets section on Rav-Kav Online, for timetables, see the Israel Railways website.
 * Be very careful when choosing fares from or to different stations of the same city. Depending on your origin station, the fare to destination differ per each station scale, not grouped per city as a whole, as it used to be before August 2022. For example, from Hadera West to Tel Aviv University it's the green fare (₪18), but to Tel Aviv Savidor Center it's the cyan fare (₪24) because that journey exceeds 40 kilometers.

Ticket validation can be done at validators in the bus. A loaded Rav-Kav, or a supported self-service mobile ticketing app, is required. If you're using Rav-Kav, it is better to validate from the validator directly: you don't need a terminal ticket booth if you already have a periodic pass or enough balance loaded. Ticket contracts can also be bought at ticket booths in terminals to be loaded on a Rav-Kav card. Exact change is not necessary: cashiers will give change for notes up to 10 times the fare. Payment by credit card is accepted at ticket booths for fares over ₪22.

 * * Includes bus, Metronit BRT, Technion cable car and the Carmelit
 * ** Transfers from bus to light rail incur a fare correction from bus to light rail fare (started ride on bus yellow fare ₪5.5, transfer within 90 minutes to light rail charge ₪2.5 to make it ₪8). If the farthest alighting stop on a bus is within yellow fare, it's not possible to choose the green fare from the bus, therefore a transfer from bus to light rail for green fare on the light rail will charge a new full green fare light rail ride.

Postpaid: credit and debit cards
Since October 26 2022, it has become possible to pay for a single ride on Dan company bus routes using contactless payments by credit and debit cards, or contactless mobile payment services that emulate a payment card from a smartphone or wristwatch NFC module, such as Google Pay and Apple Pay. Only Visa and Mastercard are supported. Isracard, Diners, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, and any card that requires PIN confirmation even for small charges are not supported. Payment by this method is for the time being only valid at Dan and only for a full fare standard single ride without transfers.

Postpaid: mobile ticketing apps
Since December 15, 2020, it has been possible to pay for your rides through mobile apps.
 * Other apps, such as Cello and Pango (car parking payments) embed the aforementioned apps within their functions.
 * There is also an app called ZUZU, however that one is used exclusively by IDF soldiers.
 * Other apps, such as Cello and Pango (car parking payments) embed the aforementioned apps within their functions.
 * There is also an app called ZUZU, however that one is used exclusively by IDF soldiers.

To pay for public transit, install the app, link a credit card, and create your passenger profile. Israel citizens or long-term visa foreigners may as well apply for applicable discount profiles (same as with Rav-Kav below). Then, when boarding, select to pay-as-you-go for a ride. The method of doing so, varies:
 * For buses, scan the QR code in the bus, or for Metronit, you can either scan the QR code on the platform stop shed before boarding or the one in the bus, and confirm the route number, its direction, and boarding and alighting stops.
 * For Israel Railways and Tel Aviv Light Rail underground section, display a QR code generated in the app to the scanner on platform entry gates, then confirm exit when getting off at your destination and make sure to display that exit QR code to the exit gates (even if they are open for any reason); otherwise, you will be charged the fare for the longest possible ride. On Carmelit, an entry QR is enough as there are no exit gates. When entering Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Light Rail on a street-level station, you still need to create an entry QR even though there's nowhere to scan it on (platform gates only underground).

You pay in shekels post-paid on a monthly basis for your rides done in the previous month if you used an Israeli credit card. You pay on an end-of-day charge basis if you used rides when a debit card or a foreign issued credit/debit card is linked to the passenger profile account.

Fixed one-way ride fares depend on aerial distance from ride start point to the alighting point per each ride. Free 90-minute transfers available in the entire country for yellow distance level only from the first ride start point. Please refer to the table above for fares. Day and month billing caps are available: if the total fare for the one way rides inside a distance level per each ride would exceed the day pass fare, only the day pass fare will be posted without subsequent charges for the day, and if the total one-way rides in a month would exceed the nationwide month pass fare cap for a distance level, then the total will be converted to the nationwide month pass fare and no more charges will be posted for subsequent rides within the distance level, but if a travel day included trains, that travel day as a whole (including bus rides of that travel day) will separately count towards the trains-inclusive distance level month cap fare based on the longest train ride of the day, and at that point total month charges can suddenly become unexpectedly high per train fare cap, therefore it might be cheaper to pay train travel days with Rav-Kav instead of apps.

Notes in regard to mobile ticketing:
 * Day is considered from 04:00:00 to 03:59:59 of the next day.
 * Month is considered from 04:00:00 of the 25th of month up to 03:59:59 on the 25th of the next month (month billing cycle reset).
 * 90-minutes yellow distance level transfers: from the moment of first ride start, on any transport method except Israel Railways.
 * Foreign credit card users do benefit from the month discounts, even though foreign cards are charged on a day basis. When the month cap is reached, no more charges will be posted for rides within the distance level.

Prepaid: Rav-Kav

Rav-Kav is a card used for payment on all forms of public transport in Israel. It is the dominant form of payment, and you need to either use it or a supported mobile ticketing app in order to ride public transport in Israel. It can be charged with: The card offers an additional discount for registered youth, student, national insurance beneficiaries, disabled, senior citizen and others. You can obtain Rav-Kav in Ben Gurion Airport, Terminal 3, Arrivals hall - at a service center post that is open Su-Th 08:00-18:00 (break 13:00-13:30), or at the service center post in the arrivals hall of Ramon Airport.
 * Israeli shekel-based stored value for single one-way rides;
 * prepaid discount deals for multiple rides on specific bus routes (phased out);
 * periodic passes that cover all transportation within a distance level in included zones.

You can use the Rav-Kav Online (רב-קו אונליין) app and a few others to charge your ticket contracts if you have an Android phone that have a supported NFC module. iPhones are supported since iOS 13. It allows you to top it up through Google Pay and Apple Pay, view information on loaded contracts such as balances, view a few usage history events, view top-up history and more. It is very refined and works well. It is recommended to have installed on your device if you are travelling in Israel. You can't get a refund for loaded stored value or for any other contract after the contract was validated, so don't load more than you need or are comfortable to lose.

Rav-Kav does not work on any internal routes in the Palestinian Authority or Gaza Strip, or for any transit that is not considered public transit by Ministry of Transport. For example, the Haifa Bat Galim - Stella Maris cable car is a Ministry of Tourism venue. However, the cable car from HaMifratz Central Bus Station at the foot of Mount Carmel to the Technion, is classified as public transit, and thus, accept Rav-Kav and mobile ticketing apps.

Service taxis (sherut), which run on fixed routes like bus lines, do not accept the Rav-Kav, unless they have a validator and usually state Rav-Kav acceptance on the outside. Rav-Kav service in service taxis does not work on Sabbath (Friday afternoon to Saturday evening).

There are three types of cards:
 * Anonymous: an anonymous card that can be charged with stored value credit (of the Standard profile below only) or with some special fare products (like a multi-ride book of tickets, or a day or week pass). The card can be bought at Rav-Kav service centers, bus and train stations, stores that support recharging Rav-Kav, at Metronit ticket charge machines in Haifa, or in the ticket vending machine besides the Rav-Kav service point in Ben Gurion Airport.
 * Registered: Rav-Kav R.jpgdes the passenger's details and photo. Only registered Rav-Kav cards can be used to purchase extended special fare classes (like the month or 30-day pass), or to receive a youth, student, senior citizen or other discount special profile. A registered card is insured for loss or theft. The passenger's usage history will be recorded and saved. This card type can be obtained only at Rav-Kav service centers during business hours or may also be issued and mailed (domestic only) from the Rav-Kav Online website, though you need to wait until Israel Post deliver it. You must show ID (Israeli and foreign passports are accepted, as are Israeli ID cards and driving licenses). Although the service centers' clerks might refuse to issue a personal card to a foreigner due to lack of training, you can insist and ask them to issue it against a foreign passport. It works, though the clerks may be left surprised that it worked. Issuance of special profiles for additional discounts is available for foreigners that are staying in Israel on a long-term visa (e.g., transfer students), otherwise even children and elders will only get standard profile.
 * Half-registered or Semi-anonymous: Same as Registered, but doesn't record the passenger's usage history to the central transit databases. Only the last 6 actions are recorded on the card to allow fare inspection. This type of card offers the same discounts of the Registered card but is not insured for loss or theft.

Card validity is eight years after issuance. If your card is near expiration, you can get fresh eight years of validity with transfer of your balances to a new card (but not for Anonymous) at any Rav-Kav service center. You can also extend the validity for another six months (and afterwards again unlimited, so basically no expiration if you remember to do it in time every six months) in the Rav-Kav Online app. Anonymous can also be extended that way. However, if your card is starting to glitch up on reading, it's best to have it reissued at the service center.

Payment methods
The card can be recharged with pay-as-you-go "stored value" credit (Hebrew: erekh tzavur) and/or with other special fare cards (each one called a "contract", Hebrew: hozeh) like a daily, weekly or monthly pass or a multi-ride ticket (multi-ride have been phased out as of January 2020, continue to exist in a one-ride version). All three card types can hold up to eight different active contracts simultaneously.

If your Android smartphone has an NFC module, you can check the content of your Rav-Kav, purchase and load contracts using credit/debit cards, as well as check your ride history (last six events are recorded on the card), using the Rav-Kav Online or HopOn, or a few other apps. Check at your smartphone's app store. iPhones can be used for this purpose with the Rav-Kav Online app only if you run iOS 13 or later.

It is also possible to obtain a USB card reader in Rav-Kav service centers for ₪10 and recharge the card yourself using credit/debit cards at Rav-Kav Online or at HopOn. Other USB contact and USB NFC contactless card readers do also work, so if you already have one for an eID, for example, you may use that also. For USB NFC, ensure that the reader works with Type B ISO 14443 contactless cards (13.56 MHz). For USB contact, any smartcard reader for ISO 7816 chip cards will work.

You can recharge contracts at cashier's terminals at participating stores. Map is available here, here or here or in some apps such as Bus Nearby (אוטובוס קרוב) used for transit planning on-the-go. Be wary of points labeled as "ATM only": see below.

You can recharge Rav-Kav at Casponet ATMs. The method is not recommended (at direct use) though, because the Casponet ATM often only offer to reload the contract types that already were on the card. It is often not what you may want to load, so it may create a false perception of which contract types there are. For stored value, it may only offer to recharge the same recharge amount type that was on the card previously (you used up your ₪50 charge, wish to only recharge for ₪30, but the ATM often will offer you to "renew" the ₪50 charge type that was on the card previously).
 * You can directly recharge in the ATM if you wish to try it: you insert your credit card, choose Rav-Kav button option, take out the credit card, insert the Rav-Kav in its place (Rav-Kav with contact chip only), then select one of the offered contracts to load and confirm. You don't need to re-insert your credit card back.
 * You can use the Casponet ATM indirectly (this is the recommended way, should you choose to use it) by using the contract reservation feature of Rav-Kav Online (if you neither have a NFC module in your phone, nor a USB card reader to use the service directly). First reserve any desired contract at Rav-Kav Online website (mobile browsers also work), then insert the Rav-Kav card that you reserved a contract for, into the ATM and confirm the contract load.

It is no longer possible to recharge cards with bus drivers. You have to find a recharging point, a shop with Rav-Kav recharge cashier terminal, or use the mobile app or website with card reader, or other methods noted above.

Stored value
Almost everywhere, the simplest way to use the card is to add credit to your stored value balance. At transit operators' recharge points, it's only possible to add fixed amounts of ₪10, ₪30, ₪50, ₪100, ₪150 and ₪200. The fixed amount is loaded to the card, and, if you are a special profile holder, with the appropriate additions to the available stored value balance to grant the appropriate discounts for one-way fares as follows: Standard profile used to get a 20% discount by getting values of 37.5, 62.5, 125, 187.5 and 250 respectively, but that was cancelled on August 1, 2022. Existing stored value does not get converted over on any profile, so you get to keep the prior discount until you use your balance up. New reloads add up to the existing balance. Loading as low as ₪10 became possible since August 2023 (previously no less than a ₪30 load).

This stored value amount can then be used bit-by-bit to pay for one-way fares. If you are using stored value of a special profile, the fare is cheaper by the appropriate discount than a full-fare ticket of a standard profile passenger.

You can not use the stored value balance to purchase other ticket types for it, because you already received the discount when charging it — no double discounts. Remember that stored value is not a shekel amount, but a value representation of passenger profile discount, even when there is no longer a standard profile discount. Occasional wrong use of the shekel ₪ symbol in reference to stored value balance at validation receipts, recharging points and applications, is an ongoing problem that often causes the passenger to forget that the profile discount was already given at (re)load time.

Using Rav-Kav Online app, its website with card reader, or a recharge point at a supported store cashier, you may also load a flexible amount (from ₪10 to ₪300 per transaction) to your stored value balance. Paying amounts such as ₪30.06 (that get 60.12 to discounted 50% profile balance) should be avoided, though. If the stored value balance amount (that is to be received and to be summarized with the existing balance, not the amount you pay, regardless of if you get a passenger profile discount or not) does result in a value that is not a multiple of 0.10, you will have issues using 90-minute transfers. So, if your balance does not end in xx.x0, you will pay twice on transfers on Egged, Carmelit and Superbus (Metronit) on each validation. If you have a personal card with special discount profiles (for foreigners that usually apply to transfer students), and at any point in time used stored value conversion as a result of expiring profiles, you should fix up your balance with a flexible amount load, for it to be multiples of 0.10.

You can combine reloads or load several times, such as load ₪50 then ₪30 to get 80 of standard profile balance or ₪30 twice to get 60. It's not possible, however, to have more than 999.90 of stored value credit across all profiles on the card (including locked balance on expired profiles, that need to be converted up) at any given time simultaneously. If after several charges your overall balance would exceed the maximum value, that charge attempt won't succeed.

Stored value payments are accepted everywhere.

You usually won't be using the same stored value for group travel of several passengers. It is recommended that each passenger have their own Rav-Kav card. Most importantly, you cannot group travel on one card on Israel Railways. But if you still insist on other transport means, it works as follows:
 * On buses you should choose the passenger amount on the middle door validator prior to validation and ensure the fare distance code that you are about to get charged. Several separate one-passenger validations in a row won't grant 90-minute transfers for any ride that isn't the last one recorded. To get transfers as a group, the entire validation has to be a group as one operation. On the next transport, you validate once for the entire group.
 * If you are using a periodic pass, you validate it on yourself. The other passengers use your stored value for a one-way ride.
 * On the Jerusalem light rail, you cannot start a group trip for several passengers on one card (double-use block). If you took an Egged city bus as a group first, you can transfer as a group to the light rail.
 * Group travel works only for anonymous cards, half-registered or personal cards with the Standard profile, or said cards with Youth profile. Youth must use group travel only with passengers who are also eligible to youth profile. They must not use their 50% discounted stored value balance towards grouping with an adult. No other special profile can use group travel.

90-minute transfers
One-way journeys for ₪5.50 in the yellow distance level have automatic free 90 minutes transfers for up to 15 kilometers from the validation on the first transport means except Israel Railways. Transfers are available for up to 15 kilometers everywhere. Travel on a higher distance level does not include any transfers.

Sometimes the buses perform their route while misconfigured. This may happen with Metropoline, Kavim and Afikim. A line that performs a long route may have the validators' and driver terminal's GPS be stuck on the wrong stop, which causes validations to be started from that stop and count your distance fare until the distance you selected, from that stuck stop. If the route goes across Zones 1 and Zone 2, you may be unable to use a Zone 1 month pass on that route, if the validator is stuck on a Zone 2 stop.

Metronit validation can be done on the platform ticketing machines, or on validators in the bus. Choose one method for validation, otherwise you will be double charged. If using the platform ticket machines, insert Rav-Kav card to the recharging point into the correct (green) slot, select the Choose contract for validation option, then the contract to be used, and take out the card on the beep, then board the Metronit. The smallest validation poles on the platform will only validate for the yellow distance level (₪5.50 up to 15 kilometers) and will only work if you have only either the periodic pass, or stored value loaded on the card, and won't work if you have (or had) more than one contract loaded (or the flexible charge reload type of stored value). So, use the recharging point.
 * If you choose to reload any contract on the Rav-Kav via the Metronit platform charging point, be aware that since October 4, 2021, it does not accept recharges by cash, only credit/debit cards. Also, it is no longer possible to buy a one-ride no-transfer Metronit paper ticket from it.

Periodic passes
Periodic passes will let you ride for less at times, such as if you need round-trip intercity travel, or wish to visit several cities in a day, or hopping on seeing half a country in a day. Distance coverage is counted per each ride separately. There are day passes that only either include bus, Metronit, Carmelit, light rail, Technion cable car, or all of them plus Israel Railways at a slightly higher price.

If you buy a day or month pass for the appropriate distance coverage level for the requested transport means, then that pass is valid for unlimited travel on those requested transport means until the furthest stop of the chosen distance level on each ride.

A "Zone 1" month pass is available for "rural" settlements for ₪99. You cannot use that one to travel in or into settlements that are considered to be in Zone 2. You must either use a single ride, a distance level day pass, or the nationwide pass without or with Israel Railways to cross zones.

On Rav-Kav Online you can choose a validity start day in advance as well. Advance selling times vary for each contract type, variants and chosen issuing operator though, most offer you one week into the future, but some may be stocked for up to three weeks.

Notes:
 * A day pass is valid from midnight of the chosen day until 03:59 the next day (i.e., for 28 hours). Any night lines are considered service for the previous day, yet if you have two day passes for two days straight and travel at night in-between, they will overlap and won't automatically work: the validator will ask you which one of your passes to validate on.
 * A flexible 31 days pass is valid from midnight of the first chosen day, and for 31 days until 03:59 on the 32nd day. They cannot be loaded on anonymous cards.
 * A calendar month pass is valid from midnight on the first day of the month until 23:59:59 of the last day of the month, no overnight service. Calendar month passes are only sold between the 25th of the previous month until the 5th of the month of their validity. They are not valid until the 1st of the month for which they are purchased. They cannot be loaded on anonymous cards.
 * Israel Railways only sells the flexible 31 day pass type. Other transit operators usually stick to the calendar month pass in their own recharge points. The two types are interchangeable, so a calendar month pass of a distance level which includes trains is valid on trains, and a flexible pass loaded in the middle of a month from Israel Railways is valid on buses. Both types are available on Rav-Kav Online, HopOn and at cashier's terminals in stores, so specify which type you need.
 * Consider using the calendar month passes if you load at the start of a 31-day month, as the prices are the same. However, a flexible 30 days pass loaded on February 1 will be valid until early morning of March 3rd (or 2nd in a leap year).

Student passenger profile holders also may buy semester and annual passes for any chosen zones. There are two types of student passenger profiles:
 * Standard Student: is a student who did not buy a semester or annual pass, and is receiving 33% discount for all stored value rides. May use standard profile day/month passes.
 * Extended Student: is a student who did buy a semester or annual pass for any chosen distance levels, and is receiving 50% discount for all stored value rides done outwards of the distance level included in their pass, and may use standard profile day/month passes on journeys exceeding the loaded semester/annual pass distance level.

Senior citizen passenger profile holders get standard profile day and month passes for half of their price.

Youth passenger profile holders only have month passes for half price and if they wish to use a day pass, that goes for full fare.

Senior citizen over 75 years travel free on a special free usage profile freeride contract.

Multi-ride contracts
This contract type consists of pre-loaded trips for the chosen distance level only, to be used in a certain region on certain routes. The ones that included more than one ride are phased out as of January 2020. One-ride contracts are available for cases when you would not want to commit for a stored value load. Though all the routes are covered with stored value or periodic passes, therefore it is not recommended to commit on these multi-ride contracts.

You can load more than one one-ride contract, but they won't stack. They will occupy one of the eight contract records available on the card.

If you had unused rides on the one-ride contracts for Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem that were available before August 2022, you can still use them. However, in case you still have loaded unused rides on older cancelled multi-ride contracts of other routes as follows, you must make your way to the corresponding operator's Rav-Kav service center in order to merge the loaded rides' value into stored value balance or get a cash refund.
 * Lines of Afikim in the Samaria area, ticket fare codes 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 21, 24, 26, 28, 50, 52;
 * Lines of Electra Afikim (Egged Transport) in the Judaea area, ticket fare codes 24, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 63.

Other details
When paying on a bus with the Rav-Kav on stored value, select the desired distance level on the validator and keep your paper receipt for the duration of the ride in case of inspection. Validators at the middle doors won't give you a paper receipt but display your ride on the screen. Inspection will scan the card.

Cases of misconfigured bus validations for the wrong distance level due to validator being stuck on the wrong stop, and cases of double charges in 90-minute transfers, may be sorted in the Rav-Kav service centers of the affected operator only.

Eilat
Buses to and from Eilat are better to be reserved in advance (at a ticket booth, by phone, internet, or the Egged mobile app). It may be possible to board just before departure without a reservation and pay the appropriate distance level fare if there are still free seats in the bus and no one is coming with a reservation. Only the mobile app reservation method will let you reserve a seat to Eilat using Rav-Kav.
 * To do so, you pick the seat reservation slip from the ticketing machine. The confirmation number is shown when you confirm the reservation in the app, so write it down. You board the bus and pay the fare using Rav-Kav stored value. All other buses are first come first served.

A Zone 1 Eilat month pass is available for ₪84.62 for distance level up to 40 kilometers.

Heavy rail
At each station there are ticket machines you can use to buy one-way rides for the distance level as paper tickets without discounts, or load them as ticket contracts to the Rav-Kav. Pass on the platform entry gates to start using the ticket. Be sure to validate on the exit gates at your destination, for the used ticket to be closed and no longer occupy one of the 8 slots of the card. You can use cash or credit cards to load one-way tickets, recharge the stored value balance, or get periodic pass contracts that include railways. It is no longer possible to get round-trip tickets, neither on paper tickets without Rav-Kav, nor as contracts.

Using the staffed ticket booth, you may also load periodic passes for advance use up to one week, so it is an option if you plan to be on a hurry on the chosen day. Or if you use the Rav-Kav Online app or website, you can choose a day in advance there as well.

Stored value balance that is already on the card can also be used to pay for one-way trips. This is recommended, as you won't get a special profile discount if you load a separate one-way contract. If you need to evaluate the fare beforehand, you may use Rav-Kav Online here - the fares are the same for stored value as well but use stored value units instead of shekels. To use the stored value for your ride, select the lower button on the ticket machine screen "Validate trip using stored value" (or "Use stored value for the ride" on newer machines' interface) then select your destination, while noting the price of your fare. It is also possible to cancel that pre-validation, if you decide to not travel or chose the wrong station, by putting the card on the ticket machine again. The stored value deduction occurs on the entry gates to the platforms.

Since March 4, 2021, it became possible to use stored value directly without prior pre-validation. You must make sure to have at least 30.00 balance units loaded (even if the fare to destination is below that) or enough balance to cover the fare to destination if it is higher. Entry without enough balance is considered ride without a ticket and is subject to a fine. There is no option to top-up for a fare fix while located inside the controlled area (after the platform entry gates), and if you use apps to top-up your balance while already inside, Rav-Kav will lose the entry-exit event chain and will not let you to exit at your destination, because the latest recorded event on the card in that case will be not an entry to the origin station, but a balance reload. You cannot use the direct stored value method if you have any additional active contract other than stored value loaded (including those that are not valid for entry to the origin station), and must use the pre-validation method above.

You cannot validate several passengers on a single Rav-Kav ticket contract when using Israel Railways. It is recommended to obtain a card for each passenger if you wish to use the railways as a group. Or you can use standard profile stored value towards issuing paper tickets for additional passengers, choose the option to "use towards paper ticket" on the stored value entry after getting the Rav-Kav contents on the ticket machine. Special profile holders cannot issue paper tickets using this option.

Understand
The best way to find out routes and schedules is to use apps or websites that combine information about all bus and railway companies, such as Google Maps, efoBus, Rav-Pass/Bus Nearby and Moovit.

The level of passenger information provided by the companies varies. Each company is responsible for information on its services and does not provide other companies' routes or times. (For this reason, the Ministry of Transport has established a unified information center.) Fellow passengers are usually very friendly and helpful (sometimes overwhelmingly so), so you can ask them.

The Israel Railways website offers schedules. Rail fares are on Rav-Kav Online. A handy tool on the Israel Railways website is the "crowding index" which shows how crowded the train is likely to be at specific intermediate stops based on data of the last two weeks.

Israel Railways operates a fleet of relatively modern trains with a lot of multiple units manufactured by Bombardier and Siemens, which look like the same class of vehicles in use in continental Europe, including a red paint scheme reminiscent of Deutsche Bahn. Israel Railways also uses Danish IC3. In general, Israeli rail lines are built to continental European standards.

The ridership and network size of Israel Railways have grown tremendously since the 1990s and there's been hardly a year since without a major new route or network improvement coming online. One that made international news was the 2018 opening of Israel's first electric rail line to Jerusalem via Ben Gurion Airport. Since then, electrification has progressed on more and more lines. There are plans to eventually electrify the entire network with the possible exception of the old Jaffa Jerusalem line. Some sources may therefore be outdated, but Israel Railways keeps their own website up to date.

At stations and stops
In many central stations you can find electronic information boards, which provide info on destinations, platforms and times of departures within the next hour. These boards usually have a column for English names but are ordered by Hebrew alphabet. In big terminals it might take a few minutes until you get the info you need.

In central stations you will find staffed information booths. There may be separate booths for the separate bus companies that serve a station.

Bus stops in cities and on the roads are marked by a yellow metal "flag". The route numbers that stop there are marked on the flag, generally accompanied by the destinations. These signs are usually in Hebrew and English, but on opposite sides of the sign. Sometimes, though, the English version is incomplete or missing. All bus stops have their ID number (5 digits) written at the top of the yellow sign, to identify your location with phone hotlines and some smartphone apps. You may also find route maps posted on the wall of the stop shed. If you need help reading this information, don't be shy to ask other passengers.

Intercity buses will refuse to pick up passengers if they are completely full (no more than 10 standing passengers), so be wary if you are planning interchanges at limited-service junctions in the middle of nowhere. Be wary of waiting at the correct stops: buses will refuse to board you, even if they stopped to alight a passenger - if the specific stop that you are trying to wait on, is designated as alighting only for that line. If you are already on the bus, be aware that you are not supposed to get off at a stop that is designated as boarding only (such as a bus station boarding platform stop, which follow the alighting platform stop).

Many bus stops have real-time arrival info screens, although as of autumn 2021 they do not work correctly due to Ministry of Transport undergoing some extended maintenance on these systems. It's best to find real-time info in smartphone apps such as Rav-Pass/Bus Nearby, EfoBus and Moovit instead.

By Internet and smartphone
Most companies provide information on the Internet, but like other aspects of their service, the quality varies greatly.
 * Google Maps provide trip planning.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.
 * Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.

Night buses and trains
Most trains stop operating at night. The line serving Nahariyya to Ben Gurion Airport, and one line along the Southern Coastal Plain to Beer Sheva, do operate during the night. Night routes are less frequent than day routes and skip some stations.

Amenities
Due to the relatively short bus journeys, there are no toilets on buses in Israel. Toilets are available in all central bus stations. Routes that take longer than about 3 hours, such as Tel Aviv to Tiberias or Kiryat Shmona, make a 10-minute rest stop in the middle of the route, where toilets are available. There are two stops on routes to Eilat. Trains do have accessible toilets.

Intercity buses have a baggage compartment underneath where you can store your bags while traveling. You can also store a bicycle there. City buses do not have a baggage compartment, and it is forbidden to bring non-foldable bikes aboard. Trains take bicycles free of charge (outside rush hour), and there are numbers at the doors indicating how many bikes will fit on each carriage. Israel Railways plans to forbid carrying bikes aboard altogether, so check before traveling.

The bus driver will often have the radio playing, even late at night. Many drivers object to cell phone conversations being held behind their seats.

Haredi-oriented lines
Often, separate bus routes serve centers of Israel's Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jews) population. This community is relatively poor, but well-organized, so they use public transportation at very high rates and get extra routes customized to meet their needs.

On these routes, passengers may self-segregate, with men sitting in the front of the bus and women in the back. When you get on a bus in Haredi areas, you may choose to follow the lead of the passengers who are already on it, or insist on your legal right to sit where you please. It is illegal for any passenger to tell another passenger where they may sit; the bus driver is obligated to assist in these situations.

It is considered impolite to sit next to a stranger of the opposite sex if there are other seats available. If you do sit next to a Haredi member of the opposite sex, they may move to a different seat or else stand.

An advantage of intercity Haredi routes is that they typically make many stops in each city's Haredi neighborhoods, rather than just the central bus station. This often saves a local bus ride at the end of trip, especially useful very late at night when local buses have stopped operating, but it makes the routes slower. A disadvantage is that they often operate less frequently, so check the schedule first. They often operate at times other buses do not, especially early morning and late at night.

Haredi-oriented routes can often be identified by their terminus. For example, most intercity Haredi routes in Jerusalem begin and end their route at Har Hotzvim/Atirot Mada rather than the Central Bus Station.

Stay safe
City buses and bus stops were frequently the targets of suicide bombers in the 1990s and early 2000s. Though this hasn't happened in many years now, it is still a risk one should be aware of. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, or discover an unattended object, immediately notify the driver, a soldier, or a police officer. If you can, avoid standing in large crowds of people in order to further minimize any risk.

Buses that travel into the West Bank are often armored to protect against shooting or rock-throwing attacks.

If you're waiting at a bus stop with multiple routes, stick out a hand/finger (also the Israeli hitchhiking sign) to flag down the driver as the bus approaches. If the driver doesn't realize you're waiting for that particular bus, you may get passed by completely. Do not wave, some drivers think that means you don't want that particular bus. If there's a large crowd to get on the bus, don't be afraid to assert yourself firmly (but not impolitely) when people try to push ahead of you.

If you want the driver to tell you your stop, it is best to be clear about it. If you just tell the driver where you want to go, he may ask you at the following stop why you didn't get off. Also, he might forget, so it is often better to ask the passengers.

While Israeli manners may be rougher than in some other countries, they are also more likely to actually help you, with several people debating the best route for you.

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

title: Public transit in Israel


text:
Bus travel in former Yugoslavia

Due in part to the sorry state of railways as well as the high price of short-haul flights in relation to average incomes, buses (autobusi, singular autobus) are the most common form of public transport in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. There is heavy competition in the market and bigger players include:
 * Lasta Beograd , the largest, part of the Eurolines network, connects Belgrade to the entire region and to most of Europe.
 * Arriva Croatia, the largest provider of passenger transport in Croatia owned by international corporation Arriva Deutsche Bahn. The Group consist of the following companies: Autotrans, APP and Panturist..
 * Centrotrans Sarajevo, from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 * Promet Makarska operates frequent buses from Zagreb to Split and Makarska.
 * Niš Ekspres operates most of the bus services to and from Niš.
 * Veolia Transport Slovenija  operates services within Slovenia.
 * Flixbus originally a German company they serve a handful of destinations in the region

A bus station is called avtobusna postaja in Slovenia, autobusni kolodvor in Croatia, autobusna stanica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, autobuska stanica in Serbia and Montenegro, and avtobuska stanica in North Macedonia.

Fares and tickets

The fares are generally lower than in Western European countries. Croatia and Slovenia are a bit more expensive than Serbia, but even the longest overnight routes shouldn't cost more than 50 euro.

Tickets can be bought on the bus or from ticket booths at bus terminals. Payment is usually done in cash and in the local currency (Serbian dinar, Bosnian convertible mark, Macedonian denar or the euro). The euro is legal tender only in Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Kosovo, but it is sometimes accepted in the other countries as well.

Destinations within the former Yugoslavia are often treated as domestic for the purposes of ticket sales. For example, there is no need to show your passport when buying tickets from Niš to Zagreb or from Split to Mostar, but you must show it when buying tickets to Sofia, Bulgaria.

Return tickets (povratna karta) are available on most lines and give a discount of up to 20%. The return journey must be on the same company, and sometimes a reservation is required before boarding the return bus.

In Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, access to the platform area at bus stations is usually unrestricted, so it is possible to board any bus with free seats and buy a ticket from the driver. On the other hand, in most Serbian cities either a valid bus ticket or a so-called "platform ticket" (peronska karta), which costs 130 dinar in Belgrade, is required to reach the platform area.

Especially in Croatia, bus passengers should be careful that they get a real ticket. Some bus conductors try not to sell real tickets to foreigners and put the fare in their own wallet. One should try to see how the conductor sells tickets to local passengers and complain when s/he tries to treat tourists differently. In Croatia, the conductor usually has a handheld device with a printer, and tickets are printed when they are sold. This is important since it can happen that a supervisor drives in front of the bus, stops the bus and checks the tickets. If you are caught without a valid ticket, the fine is at least twice the fare.

Routes and timetables
Information about routes and timetables is available at all bus terminals, usually in the local language. In Serbia and North Macedonia it is sometimes printed only in the Cyrillic alphabet. It is also possible to ask for information by phone or at ticket booths, but English isn't well spoken outside the largest cities and major tourist spots.

The websites of bus stations and bus companies also provide timetables, but these may be slightly out of date, inaccurate or incomplete. The most authoritative bus station websites are those of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split and Belgrade. When searching for bus routes on the web, always input city names with the local diacritics: č ć š đ ž (copy and paste if necessary).

Bus fleets
While some companies operate brand-new Turkish, Chinese and/or locally assembled buses, most prefer second-hand vehicles from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria or Switzerland. As a result, German-language labels (e.g. Notausstieg for emergency exit) are commonly seen. There is no legal requirement, but many buses have electronic speed limiters set at either 100 or 105 kilometres per hour.

title: Bus travel in former Yugoslavia


text:
Busua

Busua is a seaside city on Ghana's Coastal Plain.

Get in
From Accra: Follow the coastal road via Cape Coast before reaching Takoradi.

From Lomé: Pass Ghanaian border in Aflao and follow coastal road through Accra, Cape Coast to Takoradi.

From Abidjan: Take Grand Bassam road, and continue to the Ghanaian border until Elubo passing through Aboisso. Continue until Agona Junction, Then straight to Busua.

From Ouagadougou: Take Ghana road through Pô, pass the border in Paga. Drive through Tamale and Kumasi. After Kumasi, take Tarkwa road through Obuasi. From Tarkwa take Takoradi road until Agona Junction, then straight to Busua.

From Takoradi: To reach Busua, take Elubo and Axim road from Takoradi, Turn left in Agona Junction on Busua-Dixcove road. After the 3rd village turn left to Busua. It is a 30-minute drive from Takoradi.

See
An amazing city to go to. The food is great, the smell isn't so bad and it's not that big. The beach is amazing, almost the nicest beach in Ghana. Near the bridge in town you can find fishermen in canoes who can take you to the tiny island off-shore for GH₵5 a person but you might be able to talk them down if you were so inclined. For walking around you could see out East on the beach a house way up by itself. If you walk on the beach towards it you'll see stairs going up to it. The stairs are falling apart so be careful, there is also a footpath nearby. Up at the top is a sweet house some British couple built (so the story goes) but the Chief wants it so now it's home to a Ghanaian family and from the top it's quite a view.

Do

 * Rent a boogie-board, surfboard, kayak or jet-ski: Dadson's is only two buildings away from the beach and Dadson's and Busua Inn are both right near the Black Star Surf Shop which rents boogie-boards (GH₵1.5 an hour) and surfboards for cheap. You can get lessons. There's a huge resort in town as well if you have the money which rents kayaks and jet-skis.

Eat

 * The 2 best restaurants of Busua are African Rainbow (they have a good Togolese cook), and Busua Inn, a good French chef.
 * For breakfast hit up Dan the Pancake Man near Alaska: he uses rice flour and the pancakes are pretty damned good. There's a juice guy that hangs out there too where you can get 1.5 liters of juice for about GH₵3.5.
 * For street food there's a great potatoes and beans lady right at the center of town, also if you walk on the road in town towards the fishing boats, on the left you might be lucky enough to spot the lady who makes biscuits which are more like cookies.

Drink

 * Sankofa beach bar is a cool place to hang around and have a drink at anytime. It's right on the beach very close to Busua Inn.

Sleep

 * Dadson's Lodge is cheap (GH₵20 for a double with bathroom, GH₵10 for a single with shared bathroom) and right in the center of town.
 * The Busua Inn (GH₵25 to GH₵50 for AC) is a nicer place right on the water.
 * The Alaska is another hotel right on the beach and your own bungalow is about GH₵25 but some items have reportedly gone missing there.

Connect
The bug resort in town is the only place that has Internet. It costs 10 pesewas a minute (GH₵1 for ten minutes).

title: Busua


text:
Busuanga Island

Busuanga is the largest Island of the Calamian archipelago in the Northern part of Palawan province in the Philippines. Nice beaches, gentle landscape, good hiking and great diving make the island a good holiday destination.

Wreck diving is the main attraction and many Japanese ships wait patiently for you under the sea. Nearby Coron Island has the beautiful Kayangan and Barracuda lakes the latter is known for its thermoclines and fabled gigantic barracudas.

Get in
Busuanga is the closest point in Palawan from Manila and is quite accessible from Manila.

By boat
The 2GO ferry stops in Coron on its way to Puerto Princesa. Leaves Manila on Friday afternoon and arrives in Coron early Saturday morning. Heads back to Manila on Sunday night. Wait until a couple of days before it departs to get cheaper tickets. Don't wait too long, though.

There is also a ship from El Nido to Coron town. The trip takes at least 6 hours. The ship is a small crab ship. You will feel uncomfortable, if the winds are heavy.

Get around

 * Jeepney is one option for tourists from the airport. Vans carrying 6 to 8 people cost about per person. Once in Coron, you can rent another transportation mean.

See

 * The largest town on the Island is Coron.

Do

 * Wreck diving is extremely popular around Busuanga. Several Japanese World War II ships lay in good conditions in shallow water (the Skeleton Wreck is even visible for snorkellers), making for excellent dives even for amateur divers.
 *  Sea Dive Resort : Located in the heart of Coron town. Seadive is the only PADI authorized dive shop in Coron. Seadive also owns the only recompression chamber in Palawan and dives with the lowest diver to dive master ratio in Coron.
 * Coron Divers: The only Dive Center owned by a Filipino, Arni is the big boss and his sons are divemasters. Everything makes you feel in a Filipino family (even more if you stay at Chinette's lodge, 10 m away in front of Coron Divers).
 * Discovery, Coastal Rd Bgy. 5, Coron Palawan (at Coron Town).
 * Dive Calamianes: Located between the Discovery Bar and downtown.
 *  Rocksteady Dive Center: Located near the hospital.

 * Island hopping: Busuanga is more or less a "miniature version" of Palawan with smaller islands in close range. Resorts can arrange boat rental, or you can head down to the Market Pier in Coron and get a boat captain Boats generally handle around 6 passengers. Grab a lunch before you head out. You can also buy meat, fish, veggies from the wet market and request the boat captain to barbecue or cook them for you or your group. You can go camping on a (somewhat) deserted island. There are a couple of islands to check out. You can find everything you need in town/at resorts. Ask around. Gunter at Discovery seems to know of a couple good spots.
 * Mt. Tapyas hike: If you are staying in Coron Town, you can walk to the foot of Mt. Tapyas, where there is a basketball court, from the main market square in 10 minutes; alternately, you can go by tricycle for (July 2011). The hike to the top will probably take the average healthy 30-year-old 30 to 40 minutes to complete. The view is worth it at any time of day, but especially at sunset. Most people will definitely prefer to go up mornings or evenings, when it is cooler.
 * Siete Pecados is popularized by the shoot of a local television show of a mermaid love story. Experience swimming in an aquarium, beautiful corals and a great variety of fishes. There is a caretaker who will collect from tourists. Recommended time to snorkel is around 1PM-2PM. Current can be strong in the morning. This is one of the best sites to snorkel in Coron. Myth suggests that seven kids swam from the main island to escape it and follow their parents. They all drowned and the place where they drowned is where the islands are now present.
 * Other activities can be arranged for instance at Discovery Bar:
 * Horseback riding
 * Mountain bike tours
 * Jungle treks

 * Maquinit hot spring: Beautiful place to hang out in the evening. It will take you 20 to 25 minutes from the Coron town market, and cost you depending on the number of passengers. The entrance fee is  for foreigners (Feb 2018), and  for Filipinos (Aug 2011). Filipinos must show an ID. An armed guard checks everyone's bags and backpacks. The hot springs are comprised of three areas; the two smaller circular areas are warmest, and the third larger area is less warm. By Japanese onsen standards, however, the water is not at all "hot" anywhere. In the back of the pool, there is a beautiful view of the adjoining bay.

Sleep
Beyond options in Coron, there are a handful of resorts on nearby islands: Dive link, Coral Bay, Club Paradise and the most recent Rio y Mar.

Go next
The usual place to go after Busuanga is El Nido.

title: Busuanga Island


text:
Butaritari

Butaritari (pronounced Pu-tari-tari) atoll is in the Gilbert Islands group of Kiribati.

Understand
Known as the first island to have battles between Japanese and US forces during World War II, evidence of WWII relics and other historical sites can still be seen nowadays.

Butaritari was once a home for Robert Louis Stevenson, briefly, in 1889, before he went to Samoa. Pictures of the Stevenson party, the boat they chartered (the Equator), and the Wightman Brothers (owners of the Equator) store on Butaritari, can be found in the Writer's Museum in Edinburgh. It was the first island to be sighted by Randell and Durant, the first resident traders. Given its abundance of rain received in a year, Butaritari is a lush and tropical island with widely grown vegetation. Because of this, bananas and pumpkin, apart from other food crops, are shipped to Tarawa for sale.

Butaritari also has a number of easily accessible reefs. Its very deep lagoon has made it one of the best harbours in the island group and it can comfortably accommodate large vessels.

Butaritari is also famous for having the best spiritual weapons (black magic) among the islands of Kiribati. They claim to use these spiritual weapons to make people sick, paralysed, mentally retarded and even dead. They can also use it to court a girl or a boy. Up to now, the number of people practising this knowledge is getting smaller. Other cultural shrines such as shrines for Te Binekua (calling of whales), Kaobunang and others have also been erected by the islanders which can also be seen today.

Geography
Butaritari Island is located north of the equator and south of Makin Island with an area of 13.6km² and a population of 3,224 (2015 Census). It's one of the larger atolls in Kiribati with a width of 30km (east to west) and a length of about 15km (north to south). It has many islets which are either linked by channels or causeways. The lagoon is very open to exchange with the ocean making the water cool for swimming. The main government headquarters is located at Temwanokunuea village. Other villages also have clinics and police services on them.

History and culture
Butaritari was first sighted by Spanish explorer named Pedro Fernandez de Quiros in 1606 before John Marshall and Thomas Gilbert came upon several of the other islands of Kiribati in 1788.

During WWII, Butaritari and Making to the north were the first islands occupied by the Japanese. On 9 Dec 1941, 200 to 300 troops landed on Ukiangang and later the Americans came on the 20 Nov 1943. Most of the Japanese positions were overrun on the second day of the American invasion of Butaritari. Butaritari was also known as Makin South during WWII.

The knowledge of calling whales and dolphins was practised in the past, especially in Kuma village. This knowledge was only used during the village’s opening events which involved big feast like opening of new maneaba for village, church or schools. The formality of this started off when a person who was knowledgeable in this locked himself up in a local house (buia) for three days before the opening of each new maneaba. On the third day, he came out and whales were seen swimming up to the shore and were taken for meat during the feast.

Traditionally, Butaritari and Making were ruled by a chief who lived on Butaritari Island. The chief has all the power and authority to make and impose decision for Butaritari and Makin. After Kiribati gained independence, the power and authority of the chief no longer exist and the mayor and elderly men are elected and now regarded as heads of the islands that can make and impose decisions regarding the community. Butaritari Island is now having its different head of state from Makin. The general setting up of Butaritari Island is naturally rural and the people still depend on sea and land for daily living and for earning income. The people of Butaritari Island value the importance of family and respect of the elderly, guest hospitality, cultural practices and coming together under the maneaba (traditional meeting house) to socialize and feast.

Dress code is also restricted on the island. Casual wear is preferable and women are not allowed to walk around with mini skirts or shorts. A skirt/short covered down to your knees or wrapped around sulus and T-Shirts are preferable. Predominantly, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church are the two major denominations on the islands.

See

 * Escorted starting from the far north east of the island, Kuma village, to the South
 * Visit shrines of calling whales and Kaobunang at Kuma village
 * Visit other remaining shrines on Butaritari
 * Visit Japanese and American base during WWII
 * Visit American airport, war relics which include bunkers, pontoons and airplanes and other war memorial sites at Ukiangang village

Visitors should be prepared to leave a gift, especially sticks of tobacco, at each of the shrines. The traditional welcoming custom of Butaritati Island can be performed on you first day of arrival.

Do
Local activities are of numerous on the island and visitors can have a good time to observe and participate in them. These activities include:

 * Picnics at historical and cultural sites ( can be arranged upon request)
 * Boat trips to uninhabited islets (on hire services)
 * Reef, beach and island walking
 * Moonlight walking
 * Tour to cultural and historical sites to see shrines and WWII remaining and wrecks
 * Participating in any cultural practices that you like

Other local entertainments are available on the island like dancing especially which you can sit back and relax watching it. Arrangement needs to be done for this or if visitors are in time with a big event where local dancing is part of it, visitors are always welcomed to see and watch it. Don’t forget to bring your perfume as it is custom to put the perfume on the dancers when they dance. If you don’t know where to go, you can ask around the local people and they are usually most obliging.

Stay safe
Facilities and services are limited and the island is remote. You will need to be flexible with your plans to allow for instances where there may be transport delays. Accommodation is basic and food will be what is available locally. It is strongly recommended that you take additional supplies of drinking water. Medical facilities are limited on the islands to a local clinic and village nurse. Pharmaceuticals are not available and you will to ensure you have any medications you may require and basic medical supplies. Please also ensure you have advised family and friends of your travel plans and when you expect to return. Communications while on the island may be limited, however most villages will have a public phone. It is also important to note that as a sign of respect you will need to leave offerings at a number of the shines you visit. Tobacco/cigarettes are the traditional offering. If you are interested in participating in any cultural activity please have it arranged prior your travel or you can ask around the local people and they are usually most obliging.

title: Butaritari


text:
Butler

Butler is a city in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. It had its glory days in the 20th century as an industrial town making railroad cars, and it celebrates its role in the creation of the Jeep. Today, it has fallen on hard times, but it is home to several National Historic Sites, and may be of interest to those who want to explore America's industrial history.

Understand
Butler is the county seat of Butler County. In 2010, the city population was 14,000. Butler was named the 7th best small town in America by Smithsonian magazine in May 2012.

History
Butler was named for Maj. Gen. Richard Butler, who died at the Battle of the Wabash, in western Ohio in 1791.

In 1803 John and Samuel Cunningham became the first settlers in the village of Butler. The first settlers were of Irish or Scottish descent and were driving westward from Connecticut. In 1802, German immigrants began arriving, with Detmar Basse settling in Jackson Township in 1802 and founding Zelienople the following year. After George Rapp arrived in 1805 and founded Harmony, more settlers followed. John A. Roebling settled Saxonburg in 1832, by which time most of the county was filled with German settlers.

In its heyday, the city of Butler was a "Steel Belt" manufacturing and industrial area. It remains home to an AK Steel factory. In 1902, the Standard Steel Car Company opened one of its largest railcar manufacturing facilities in Butler. About 2,500 workers produced 60 steel-bed railroad cars per day in 1902. Eastern European immigrants were lured to the area in the early 20th century with the promise of reliable jobs, which offered company housing and a company store. The company constructed a baseball park which was the home of a New York Yankees farm team. The steel workers of Butler made artillery and naval shells during World War II. The Pullman-Standard plant closed in 1982, and was demolished in 2005.

The American Austin Car Company/American Bantam Car Company was headquartered in the area. Bantam was an early producer of small fuel-efficient vehicles through the 1930s. In 1940, Bantam created the iconic World War II Jeep. A monument stands near the courthouse commemorating Bantam's "creation of the Jeep".

Like most of the region, by the end of the 1970s, the local economy changed dramatically. Manufacturing virtually ended and good-paying jobs became scarce. The city now accepts state and government money to sustain itself.

By car
It is 35 miles (56 km) north of Pittsburgh.

Five major highways run through or near the city, providing links to other areas throughout Western Pennsylvania. The south terminus of Pennsylvania Route 38 is just north of the city at U.S. Route 422. Route 422 skirts the city, to the north, on the Butler Bypass. PA 68 and PA 356 go straight through downtown, where they intersect with PA 8 (Butler's Main Street).

Get around
Butler is served by The Bus, run by the Butler Transit Authority.

See

Other sites listed in the National Register of Historical Places:
 * The, also known as the Lafayette Building and Butler Branch Mellon Bank, it is considered the first "skyscraper" in Butler. It was built in 1902–1903, and is a six-story, five bay by five bay, brick and stone building in the French Renaissance Revival style. A two-story addition was built in 1929. The building housed Butler's post office from 1903 to 1913. The building was rehabilitated into an apartment building in 1992–1993.
 * The Butler Historic District is a national historic district which includes 128 contributing buildings, 1 contributing site, and 4 contributing objects in the central business district of Butler. It includes primarily commercial and institutional buildings, with some residential buildings, built between about 1828 and 1952 in a number of popular architectural styles including Late Victorian. Located in the district and listed separately are the Butler County Courthouse, the Butler County National Bank, and the Sen. Walter Lowrie House.
 * The was the home of United States Senator Walter Lowrie, built in 1828, and is the headquarters of the Butler County Historical Society.
 * , often referred to as Phillips Mansion, is a historic Tudor-Gothic mansion designed by architect Benno Janssen and built in 1929-1930 for Benjamin D. Phillips, son of T.W. Phillips, founder of T.W. Phillips Gas & Oil Co. Tucked away and hidden from view, it resides in the northeast corner of the city and is privately owned by one of the Koch Brothers.

Arts

 * The has been running productions continuously since 1941.
 * The produces an annual musical production.
 * produces several plays, including an annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
 * The is the only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region with a specific focus on Chinese and Japanese art and culture.
 * The is a former one-room schoolhouse that taught students from 1839 to 1874. Throughout its history, it has been a post office, library and Red Cross headquarters. It is now a museum.
 * The performs at the Butler Intermediate High School auditorium.
 * The Associated Artists of Butler County and the Butler Arts Council, which host galleries and live events at the, on 344 S Main Street.

Events

 * The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, the largest jeep festival in the US, is held annually in June with off-road trails, a Jeep playground obstacle course, and the "original" Jeep Invasion street party.

Go next

 * Meadowood, a small town south of Butler

title: Butler


text:
Butler County

There is more than one place called Butler County:

United States of America

 * Butler County (Kansas) — A county in Kansas
 * Butler County (Ohio) — A county in Ohio
 * Butler County (Pennsylvania) — A county in Pennsylvania

title: Butler County


text:
Butler County (Ohio)

Butler County is located in south-west Ohio.

Cities

 * - home of Miami University
 * - home of Miami University
 * - home of Miami University
 * - home of Miami University
 * - home of Miami University

Other destinations
Hueston Woods State Park and Resort Lodge, Southwest corner of Preble County, northwest corner of Butler County, north of Oxford. North of SR 27 on Route 732. Located in Butler and Preble counties, nearly 3,000 acres. Lodge: 96-rooms, dining room, snack bar, gift shop, meeting rooms, lounge, indoor, outdoor swimming pools, game room, and lighted tennis court. Cottages: 25 cottages, two bedrooms, bath, kitchen, living room, screened porch. Two Premium Cottages. Ten Efficiency Cottages. All cottages have cooking, eating utensils, towels, and bedding. Camping: 252 campsites, electrical outlets, showers, flush toilets, laundry, trailer waste station, 236 non-electric campsites, with vault-type latrines. Three camper cabins, built-in bunks, air conditioning, and an outdoor gas grill, 28 horseman campsites and pet camping. 10 miles of hiking trails, 18 miles of bridle trails, 12 miles for mountain biking. 18-hole, 7,005-yard, par 72 golf course, driving ranges open from March until November. Acton Lake, boating, launch ramps, public docks, fishing pier, 1,500-foot swimming beach, concession stand, bathhouse, volleyball court, horseshoes, miniature golf, playground, basketball court, Nature Center, fossil hunts and playground.

Wayfinding
On January 9, 2013, the Butler County Visitors Bureau unveiled a system of 150 wayfinding signs intended to direct visitors and residents to local attractions in the County. The green-and-blue signs are being installed throughout the County and highlight parks, museums, Miami University campuses, and entertainment venues.

By bike
The paved-surface Great Miami River Recreation Trail includes three non-contiguous sections throughout Butler County:
 * North Verity Parkway at Breiel Boulevard in Middletown to Oxford State Road (OH 73) near Trenton - 10 miles
 * Rentschler Forest Preserve/Miami-Erie Canal Metropark to Canal Road Trailhead in Fairfield Township - 2.2 miles
 * Downtown Hamilton to Joyce Park in Fairfield - 3.6 miles

Go next
Butler County is located immediately north of Cincinnati. U.S. Highways 27 and 127, as well as Interstate 75, all offer quick access to the city.

title: Butler County (Ohio)


text:
Butte

Butte is one of the major towns in Montana, with a population of 35,000 (2020). In its heyday between the late 19th century and about 1920, it was one of the largest and most notorious copper boomtowns in the American West, home to hundreds of saloons and a famous red-light district.

Understand
It used to be Montana's largest city, but has dwindled in size and importance along with the state's mining industry. The essence of the town is summed up by the sign on the northern approach from the I-15:

 * "The "greatest mining camp on earth" built on "the richest hill in the world". That hill, which has produced over two billion dollars worth of gold, silver, copper and zinc is literally honeycombed with drifts, winzes and stopes that extend beneath the city.  There are over 3000 miles of workings and shafts reach a depth of 4000 feet.
 * "This immediate country was opened as a placer district in 1864. Later Butte became a quartz mining camp and successively opened silver, copper and zinc deposits.
 * "Butte has a most cosmopolitan population derived from the four corners of the world. She was a bold, unashamed, rootin', tootin' hell-roarin' camp in days gone by and still drinks her liquor straight."

By car
Butte is right along I-90 between Deer Lodge and Whitehall, and also at the intersection with the I-15 highway.

By bus
Bus service into town is provided by Salt Lake Express and Jefferson Lines. Both stop at the bus station at 1324 Harrison Ave.

Get around
Butte is large and businesses are spread out into several sections. You can walk once you get into a section, but a vehicle is needed to get around. There is also a developed bike trail system.

See

 * The most interesting (horrifying?) feature of Butte is the 1,700-foot-deep Berkeley Pit (sometimes referred to by out-of-staters as the "Butte Hole"), the site of a former copper mining operation that is now partially filled with toxic runoff and is listed as a Superfund site (a federal government program to clean up toxic problems). Despite the frightening description, The Pit is an interesting and instructive side trip and should not be passed up.

Do

 * Ice Skating is available at 7 city parks.
 * Urban trails have been extensively developed. Use these for leisure strolls to see the scenery, go hiking, biking, or horseback riding. The nearby Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest has a variety of trails also.
 * Ice Skating is available at 7 city parks.
 * Urban trails have been extensively developed. Use these for leisure strolls to see the scenery, go hiking, biking, or horseback riding. The nearby Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest has a variety of trails also.
 * Urban trails have been extensively developed. Use these for leisure strolls to see the scenery, go hiking, biking, or horseback riding. The nearby Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest has a variety of trails also.

Eat
Butte is known for the food of its Irish-influenced mining heritage. Pasties are a meat potato and onion mix, enclosed in a semicircle of pastry dough with a crimped edge, served baked smothered with brown gravy. Miners used their helmet candles to heat the self-contained meal down in the shaft below Butte. The crimped edge was used to handle the pastry with dirty hands, then discarded at the end of the meal. (You should go ahead and eat it if you haven't been working in the mine) Pasties are served locally at restaurants with Joe's giving them top billing.

Butte has a selection of fine dining establishments

Sleep

 * Free RV parking is available downtown at the parking lots near Old Lexington Gardens Park (304 E Granite St). There is nothing to indicate that overnight parking is not allowed. Follow signs for "Visitor & R.V. Parking".
 * Free RV parking is available downtown at the parking lots near Old Lexington Gardens Park (304 E Granite St). There is nothing to indicate that overnight parking is not allowed. Follow signs for "Visitor & R.V. Parking".
 * Free RV parking is available downtown at the parking lots near Old Lexington Gardens Park (304 E Granite St). There is nothing to indicate that overnight parking is not allowed. Follow signs for "Visitor & R.V. Parking".
 * Free RV parking is available downtown at the parking lots near Old Lexington Gardens Park (304 E Granite St). There is nothing to indicate that overnight parking is not allowed. Follow signs for "Visitor & R.V. Parking".
 * Free RV parking is available downtown at the parking lots near Old Lexington Gardens Park (304 E Granite St). There is nothing to indicate that overnight parking is not allowed. Follow signs for "Visitor & R.V. Parking".

Go next

 * Take the 15 mile winding drive to Pipestone Trailhead on MT-2 E and take in the gorgeous scenery.

title: Butte


text:
Butte County

Butte County is in the Shasta Cascades region of California. The county is named for the Marysville Buttes that are actually found in neighboring Sutter County. Butte County is a rural destination featuring rolling hills, rivers, and large agricultural areas.

Go next

 * - Butte County's northwestern neighbor, Tehama County has a quintessentially "western" feel, with most county residents employed in ranching, timber or farming, and most tourists drawn to the region for fishing, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The county's largest town, Red Bluff, has a population of only about 15,000 inhabitants, but hosts the Red Bluff Round-Up, one of the west's largest annual rodeos, each spring.  While there are numerous streams and rivers, the Sacramento River is the largest, intersecting the county and offering excellent fishing for rainbow trout, king salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead, smallmouth bass, sturgeon, and striped bass.
 * - Located northeast of Butte County, the forests, rivers and mountains of Plumas County were originally inhabited by Native Americans before miners arrived during the Gold Rush, followed soon after by loggers, and today tourists visit the county for its camping, fishing, whitewater, snowshoeing, and other outdoor opportunities. The Feather River Scenic Byway is a popular way to see the county's beauty, with the east-west route following California's first designated wild and scenic river past nearly one hundred waterfalls, historic bridges and tunnels, spring wildflowers, vivid fall colors, and the "Stairway of Power" consisting of seven hydroelectric powerhouses installed along the river.
 * - Bordering Butte County to the southeast, rural Yuba County is located along the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas, offering visitors recreational opportunities in the Plumas and Tahoe National Forests, and providing a glimpse into the area's Gold Rush past at the ghost town of Timbuctoo and neighboring Smartsville. The western side of the county is flatter, more populous, and primarily used for fruit orchards, rice fields, and grazing.
 * - Butte County's southeastern neighbor, tiny Sutter County lies between the Sacramento and Feather rivers, with nearly 90% of the county's land used for grazing and agriculture. The county is home to the eroded volcanic lava domes of the Sutter Buttes, which occupy a circular area roughly ten miles across and are sometimes referred to as the world's smallest mountain range.
 * - Located southwest of Butte County, visitors to rural Colusa County will find an abundance of rice fields and almond trees, but a limited number of amenities and attractions. Sights that may be of interest include four national wildlife refuges, as well as the Colusa County Courthouse in the town of Colusa, which was erected in 1861 and is the oldest remaining courthouse in the Sacramento Valley.
 * - Bordering Butte County to the west, Glenn County is an agricultural region that is most likely to be experienced by travelers passing through on Interstate 5. While it lacks significant amenities, there are a few options for travelers to experience small-town America at events such as the Glenn County Fair, held in mid-May in the town of Orland, or at the Thunderhill Raceway Park outside of Willows, home to the longest automobile race in the United States: the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

title: Butte County


text:
Butterworth

Butterworth is the main town on the mainland side of Penang state in Malaysia. It was named after William John Butterworth, governor of the Straits Settlements from 1843-1855. Smaller, more industrial and practical, Butterworth does not have any of the atmosphere which George Town across the Penang Straits has. However, it is an important transportation hub for all train and many bus services which do not go directly to Penang Island.

Butterworth is also the mainland terminal for the Penang Ferry.

By train
is next to the bus and ferry terminal, south of the town centre. It is a major rail terminal for Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railways) ETS and Komuter trains heading south to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and north to Padang Besar on the border with Thailand, where connecting trains to Hat Yai and Bangkok are operated by State Railways of Thailand's. In December 2015, electrifying and double-tracking is completed up to the Thai border. Although overnight express trains to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur were canceled, new ETS and Komuter trains, capable of traveling up to 140 km/h, link Kuala Lumpur in just four hours and Padang Besar in less than two hours.

 * To/from Kuala Lumpur There are five ETS trains traveling to/from Kuala Lumpur. The fair is RM59 or RM79 depends on the service level. Seats on these trains are often sold out, and it is advisable to book in advance either at the KTMB office in the Georgetown ferry terminal, or on-line at KTMB website or other third party booking site such as BusOnlineTicket.com or Easybook.com.
 * To/from Thailand KTMB operates Komuter trains traveling to/from Padang Besar at the Thai border hourly from 05:25 to 21:25. The fair is RM11.40 and travel time is one hour and 50 minutes. From Padang Besar, State Railways of Thailand's operates twice daily shuttle trains to Hat Yai, that costs 80 baht and takes 50 minutes, and once daily express train to Bangkok. Alternatively, there are frequent local buses from the Thai side of the border to Hat Yai. Thai time is ::one hour behind: Malaysian time: check departure time of Thai trains are either in Thai or Malaysian time. Border formalities are done inside the Padang Besar station but there is no ATM or official currency exchange inside the station, and it is advisable to exchange some Thai baht before heading there.  Refer to the KTMB site for schedule.
 * To/from Taiping KTMB also operates Komuter train south towards Taiping. It is also possible to make a connection there to more ETS trains to Kuala Lumpur and further south to Gemas. For schedule, refer to Train36 website

By bus
The is a few metres from the train station, under the highway overpass. Any train station representative can point you in the direction of the bus stop.

Buses go into many destinations throughout the country.
 * To/from Kuala Lumpur - almost hourly, journey takes 5 hours and costs around RM25. If you are in a rush to get to KL, the bus may be your best bet. The journey time can be half as long. Most of the coaches have air-con, as well as other comforts. The buses, in most cases, do not have restrooms. However, the buses make a number of breaks at rest stops, which have restrooms, food and drinks available. Much of the journey is very scenic.

 * Beware of the friendly and helpful touts preying on tourists at the bus station. They aren't selling tickets; they sell a voucher which you later exchange for a ticket, at which stage you'll find you've been overcharged by several ringgit.

 * Kuala Perlis, RM50, three times per day.

By road
City is accessible by the Butterworth Outer Ring Road and the Butterworth–Kulim Expressway, the latter is part of the North–South Expressway.

By boat
The much-loved Penang ferry departs regularly from the for George Town. The ferry terminal is connected with the railway station and bus terminal via covered walkways. In 2019 there was ongoing building work, making connections a little convoluted: in general, from the train station entrance take a left to the bus terminal, where the ferry terminal may be reached from the first floor, above the buses. Travellers may want to consider using toilets at their hotels or at restaurants as the ferry toilets are infamous for their overuse and offensive odours.

Get around
Rapid Penang - bus service that covers most of the city as well as entire Penang state.

See

Buy
Hypermarkets such as Carrefour and Tesco Extra can be found in Seberang Jaya. Besides, in Seberang Jaya itself, there is a shopping mall called Sunway Carnival Mall. Other shopping complexes such as Megamal are in Perai. Jusco Bandar Perda and the Summit can be found in Bukit Mertajam.

Eat

Many Chinese restaurants are available along the road to the sea

Sleep
Butterworth has few hostels and star-rated hotels serving visitors:

Go next
George Town is the obvious place to go next. Taiping and Alor Setar, in the neighbouring states of Perak and Kedah, are just over an hour's drive away.

title: Butterworth


text:
Buttonwillow

Buttonwillow is a small town on Interstate 5 in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Get in
Buttonwillow is located along Interstate 5 at the exit for Highway 58. There are a number of motels and eateries immediately to the east of the Interstate that claim to be in Buttonwillow. Buttonwillow proper is located about 4.5 miles to the west of the Interstate on Highway 58.

Go next

 * Bakersfield - East of Buttonwillow on Highway 58. Nicknamed "the country music capital of the West Coast", Bakersfield is the largest city in the southern San Joaquin Valley and is thus the best option for those seeking lodging, transportation, or other services.
 * McKittrick - An oil & gas town located southwest of Buttonwillow on Highway 58 that is home to the McKittrick Brea Pit, a tar pit that was the site of a huge cache of prehistoric fossils.
 * Taft - An oil town located south of Buttonwillow that offers food, gas, and lodging services. Taft is also home to the West Kern Oil Museum and a replica of Sutter's fort that was built in 1940 as a Depression-era project.
 * Wasco - Located northeast of Buttonwillow, Wasco is known as the city of roses, with 55% of all roses grown in the USA grown in and around Wasco. Its annual spring Rose Festival attracts visitors from all over southern California.
 * Lost Hills - Northwest of Buttonwillow on I-5, this town will be of most interest to travelers on the interstate who need fuel, food or other services.
 * The Grapevine - The Grapevine is a corridor along I-5 that is home to the outlets at Tejon and a slew of traveler-focused restaurants and hotels for the thousands of cars traveling on the interstate.
 * Tule Elk State Natural Reserve - Located about twelve miles southeast of Buttonwillow, this reserve is home to a herd of about forty tule elk, a species native to California that was nearly wiped out in the 19th century.

title: Buttonwillow


text:
Butuan

Butuan is a city in the province of Agusan del Norte in the Philippines. Located in the northeastern part of Agusan Valley sprawling across the Agusan River, the city is known for its colorful history and culture.

Understand
This article also covers the nearby towns of Buenavista and Nasipit; both towns used to be barrios (present-day barangays) of Butuan until they were made separate municipalities in 1929 and 1936, respectively.

Butuan is governed separately from the province of Agusan del Norte (locals do not vote for provincial officials), but for practical purposes, Butuan belongs to the province. Butuan remains the de facto capital of Agusan del Norte, even after the capital has been moved to Cabadbaran.

History
Butuan’s history, culture, arts and people date back to the 4th century as showcased in museums which makes Butuan an exciting source of cultural artifacts in Mindanao. As early as the 10th century, according to Chinese historical documents, people from Butuan had already established trading relations with the kingdom of Champa in what is now South Vietnam. By the 11th century, Butuan was the center of trade and commerce in the Philippines. The best evidence of this is the discovery of 9 balangays (called the "Butuan boats") and other archeological finds in the vicinities of Butuan City, particularly in Ambangan, Libertad near the Butuan and Masao rivers.

Climate
Butuan is usually dry from March to September while the wet season stretches from October to February. Temperatures range as low as while the maximum is. With the humidity it will feel more like to.

By boat
Ferries call at Nasipit, a port town west of downtown.

By bus or minivan

Bachelor Express, whose buses are in a bright yellow livery, is the main carrier for trips within Mindanao, from the stations at Cagayan de Oro (, 8 hours) and Davao (, 6 hours). Philtranco has one bus daily from Manila, via Maharlika Hwy.

Both terminals have rather squalid surroundings, abounding with vendors and slums. The roads around the bus station are paved with concrete, but nearby is a slum, and across the street is a noisy and smelly public market. The minivan terminal is unpaved and dusty, alongside the overall atmosphere, being near two bustling public wet and dry markets.

The bus station building has indoor stalls, which primarily sell snacks to take in the bus, and just behind the bays are a row of shops. Just nearby is a Puregold, which may have a better selection of food and drinks.

Get around
Most local transport is on multicabs or tricycles. Taxis are available outside the major malls and the airport. The bus terminal is (1 km) from downtown. and the airport is (2 km) from downtown.

See
There are historical and famous places in Butuan City you must see.
 * Mount Mayapay: Looming southwest of the Agusan Valley is this majestic mountain plateau. It rises to 2,214 feet (675 m) above sea level. Mount Mayapay got its name from the ancient Madjapahit Empire. The history behind the Sri-Vishaya period bears much meaning and influence of Butuan's pre-historic and archaeological discoveries.
 * Agusan River: Butuan River is the widest, deepest and longest navigable river in Mindanao. A cruise along the river barangays reveals much about Butuan's history, culture, arts, and people, and as a tribute to the Patroness of the Agusan River Senora Sta. Ana, the Abayan Festival was born – a day-long celebration of baroto races and fluvial procession at the Agusan River.
 * Nipa Wine Distillery: Laksoy is a local wine made out of the indigenous Nipa palm that abounds in Butuan. It goes through the process of fermentation from a crudely-made vat only a native Butuanon can ingenuously produce.
 * Agusan River: Butuan River is the widest, deepest and longest navigable river in Mindanao. A cruise along the river barangays reveals much about Butuan's history, culture, arts, and people, and as a tribute to the Patroness of the Agusan River Senora Sta. Ana, the Abayan Festival was born – a day-long celebration of baroto races and fluvial procession at the Agusan River.
 * Nipa Wine Distillery: Laksoy is a local wine made out of the indigenous Nipa palm that abounds in Butuan. It goes through the process of fermentation from a crudely-made vat only a native Butuanon can ingenuously produce.
 * Nipa Wine Distillery: Laksoy is a local wine made out of the indigenous Nipa palm that abounds in Butuan. It goes through the process of fermentation from a crudely-made vat only a native Butuanon can ingenuously produce.
 * Nipa Wine Distillery: Laksoy is a local wine made out of the indigenous Nipa palm that abounds in Butuan. It goes through the process of fermentation from a crudely-made vat only a native Butuanon can ingenuously produce.
 * Nipa Wine Distillery: Laksoy is a local wine made out of the indigenous Nipa palm that abounds in Butuan. It goes through the process of fermentation from a crudely-made vat only a native Butuanon can ingenuously produce.

Do

 * Mountain hiking in Mount Mayapay. Make sure, though, that you are accompanied by an experienced hiker and that you have the complete necessary gear.
 * Go to beaches in nearby towns of Carmen, Buenavista, and Cabadbaran.
 * See the various historical sites and museums mentioned above
 * Meet, mingle and make friends with nice and hospitable Butuanons
 * Go to bar and clubs, particularly those near the Gaisano Mall.
 * Listen to concert of local bands at Caraga Square
 * Watch for cultural presentations on 9 May – City Fiesta (in honor of St. Joseph), 2 Aug – Adlaw hong Butuan (Butuan Day), or the Kahimunan Festival, Butuan’s version of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, it is celebrated to pay homage to the city’s patron, Sto. Niño. Kahimunan is from a Lumad word for “gathering.” The annual fiesta is a mixture of Christian and folk elements celebrated with pomp and pageantry.

Banks & ATMs

 * BDO has Master Card/Visa Card ATMs. Max
 * Metrobank has Master Card/Visa Card ATMs. Max
 * PNB has Visa Card ATMs. Max
 * PNB has Visa Card ATMs. Max

Sleep
Butuan has a number of hotels, you can try sleeping on various lodges and inns at the downtown part of the city.

Talk
Cebuano/Bisaya is the main language used in Butuan. Some of the old native-born inhabitants still speak a language called Butuanon. Most of the people understand English.

Stay healthy

 * Butuan Medical Center. Km5 Baam. +63 85 3417490. (Government Hospital).

Cope

 * Bureau Of Immigration Butuan Office. 3rd Floor. Rural Bank Bldg. AD Crato Street. +63 85 3000052.

Go next

 * Tandag
 * Gingoog
 * Bislig
 * Davao

title: Butuan


text:
Buxtehude

Buxtehude is a small city in the German state of Lower Saxony.

Understand
There have been signs of a settlement here since the bronze age. Is now the location of a number of major companies including divisions of Airbus and Unilever.

History
Buxtehude was a member of the Hanseatic League.

Get around
The size of the city is ideal for exploration on foot or by bike.

Go next
Buxtehude is surrounded by the Altes Land, one of the biggest fruit growing areas with cherry and apple plantations. It's an ideal area for cycling along the Este river and admire the farm houses, that throughout the area feature thatched roofs and unique wooden entrances with intricate carvings.

 * Hamburg
 * Jork
 * Neukloster-Hedendorf - forest of Neukloster
 * Stade
 * Buchholz in der Nordheide

title: Buxtehude