text:
Ingushetia

Ingushetia is a republic in Russia's North Caucasus bordering North Ossetia to the west, Chechnya to the east, and Georgia to the south. The region is the smallest in Russia. It is often said to be Russia's "least Russian" region, as only 1% of the population is made up of ethnic Russians.

Cities
There are four main towns. Magas, the new and growing capital, will eventually become the fifth:
 * — founded from scratch in 1995 as the administrative capital of Ingushetia, now home to about 3,000
 * — city in the plains
 * — an oilfield town now housing some 20,000 Chechen refugees
 * — largest city, main entry point and former capital, straddles the border with North Ossetia
 * — formerly known as stanitsa Orjonikidzevskaya - Largest rural locality in Russia

Other destinations
To visit anywhere outside the main towns requires a Russian Federal Security Bureau permit, especially for foreigners.

 * — a Soviet resort/sanatorium high in the mountains of southwestern Ingushetia
 * — a high aul in Ingushetia's beautiful Dzheyrakh Region
 * — a multi-towered Ingush aul in southern Ingushetia in the Assy Gorge
 * — castle in the mountains
 * — castle in the mountains
 * — castle in the mountains
 * — watch towers and Arm khe resort complex
 * Tkhaba-Yerdy Church — ancient Ingush Christian church
 * — castle in the mountains
 * — mountain village

Understand
The Ingush are relatives of the Chechens and have shared their Sunni Islamic beliefs as well as their fate in rebellion and conquest vis-à-vis the Russians. In the beginning of the 19th century, a Chechen scholar peacefully converted most Ingush into Islam. Like the Chechens, the Ingush were accused by Stalin of Nazi collaboration and were deported to Kazakhstan. When Khrushchev allowed them to return home, they found that their Orthodox Christian neighbors, the Ossetes, had settled on formerly Ingush lands, launching a violent ethnic conflict which rages on today.

Around 1929-1991, Ingushetia was merged with Chechnya to form the Chechen-Ingush ASSR, and became separated. By 1991, the first Ingush president, Ruslan Aushev attempted to help the already weak economy, and when the first Chechen war started, this created a tremendous problem for the economy. It collapsed after Aushev's success. However, he was forced to leave office when the second Chechen war started. Aushev also founded the city of Magas.

By 2002, Murat Zyazikov came into office, and since then the political and economic situation has worsened, and Zyazikov received harsh criticism for his disregard for human rights, corruption, and social and political problems. This was because of alleged abductions, illegal beatings, unlawful arrests and killings of suspects by the federal forces and local police and allied paramilitaries. By 2008, a new president, Yunus-bek Yevkurov succeeded the unpopular Zyazikov and began a campaign into improving the situation in the region.

The poor situation in the republic has made it a magnet for terrorism for Chechen and Ingush rebels, and has continued to make it more uneasy for travelers to visit. The region is desperately poor, with only 5 in 10 people employed and a large part of the population living in severe poverty, earning less than US$2 a day.

Open warfare ended in 2015, and since then, a sense of normalcy has been gradually returning to the region. The region is slowly being rebuilt, but what lies ahead is anybody's guess.

Although the majority of Ingushetia's population lives in the larger northern towns, the Ingush consider their true heritage to be tied to the ancient auls (stone mountaintop villages) in the south of Ingushetia, especially along the Assy Gorge.

Get in
Citizens of foreign countries must have a special permit for visiting mountainous parts of Ingushetia. These permits are issued by the FSB office in Nazran or can be obtained online. Apply well in advance. Russian citizens do not need a permit anymore, but have to carry a passport.

By plane
Planes from Moscow (Vnukovo or Sheremetyevo airport) to Ingushetia Magas (airport near Ordzhonekidzovskaya).:

 * Morning flights by Pobeda (at 8:20) and UTair (at 09:40)
 * Afternoon flight by Aeroflot (14:55).

Alternative routes: Beslan airport in North Ossetia and Grozny airport in Chechnya.

By train
A couple of trains per week connect Moscow's Kazanskiy Station with Nazran (40 hr).

As of August 2018, Train 146Э leaves Moscow Kazanskiy on even days at 23:16, arriving in Nazran at 06:55 (31 hr 39 min). Train 145С departs Nazran on the same day 146Э arrives on at 23:22, arriving in Moscow at 06:07 (30 hr 45 min).

By bus
A daily bus leaves from Moscow (Paveletski or Kazanski railway station) to Nazran (total trip time over 24 hours). A daily bus leaves from Grozny,Nalchik and Stavropol. Regular buses leaves from Moscow. A small buses leaves from Nalchik and other north Caucasian and south Russian cities (e.g., to Vladikavkaz).

Get around
Taxi, buses.

Talk
Ingush is the main language, and an official language in the republic. Ingush is commonly known as ГІалгІай мотт (Ğalğaj mott). Ingush is a language related to Chechen and other regional languages are common.

Russian is spoken natively by only about 1% of Ingushetia's population, but almost everyone speaks it as a second language, so you should have no problem getting by.

English is spoken by almost nobody, even in the largest city, Nazran.

Buy
Euros and US dollars are accepted and can be exchanged for rubles. ATMs are widely available even in Dzheirakh village. Best place to buy: Central Market in Nazran.

Costs are generally higher than in much of Russia and are comparable to those in Moscow.

Eat

 * "Assa" — restaurant,located in Nazran
 * "Vstrecha"

Drink
Due to rising anti-Russian sentiment, the shops selling alcohol are prime targets for Muslim extremists. It is recommended that tourists stay away from these shops. The attacks are frequent, though usually without harm to the shoppers.

Sleep
"Assa" Hotel in Nazran

Learn

 * Ingush State University

Work
There is at least 50% unemployment in Ingushetia. The oil industry is slowly deteriorating. The best places for a foreigner to work are international human relief organizations and medicine.

Stay safe
In Ingushetia, since the end of the Second Chechen war (1999-2009), there have been no more fighting, but there are not infrequent few actions of the few surviving militants, who are often immediately neutralized by local law enforcement agencies here. Therefore, there is nothing much to fear.

Now the entire territory of Ingushetia, as well as the territory of neighboring Chechnya, is completely open to foreigners, but when entering this republic, all cars and their passengers pass police posts. If you, being foreigners, enter Ingushetia by car or bus from neighboring regions (for example, from North Ossetia or Chechnya), they will definitely ask the purpose of the trip. If they hear the desired answer “tourism”, then they quietly skip it. With particular suspicion, local police and FSB agents look at foreigners from Muslim-majority countries, and in general to all foreigners (regardless of citizenship) who have an Islamic name and/or surname. Because they are afraid that you could come here to join the militants hiding in the mountains and forests. All vehicles will be searched for suspicious and prohibited items (drugs, explosives, large amounts of money, a large amount of alcohol and cigarettes, they can rummage through your phone in search of suspicious activity or the presence of pornography).

Be prepared that you, as a foreigner, will be under the covert surveillance of FSB (Federal Security Service) agents and informants. For more peace of mind, it is recommended to hire a local guide here, although in Ingushetia no attacks on foreigners by rebels have been recorded in the last decade.

In Ingushetia, women are inviolable for men. If you are a man, then try not to communicate at all with local unfamiliar women (especially with young girls and women) unless absolutely necessary. In terms of conservatism and universal freedoms, the situation here in Ingushetia is much milder than in neighboring Chechnya, but at times more conservative than in Dagestan, or in neighboring North Ossetia, Stavropol Krai or Kabardino-Balkaria.

Stay healthy
Do not drink tap water. The Coca-Cola and Pepsi products can be fake, and unhealthy. Use the water from wells such as one of the good ones near the village of Barsuki on the road.

Respect
Ingushetia is a conservative Islamic society, with a traditional code of honour incorporating both Islamic and Vainakh influences. As such, visitors should dress conservatively; shorts or short skirts should be avoided, skirts should be at least knee length, and your upper body wear should cover your shoulders and midriff. It is also considered obscene to wear sandals in public, so make sure you only wear covered shoes. However, non-Muslim women are not required to wear a hijab.

In general, locals are interested in getting to know foreigners better, and, as a rule, are useful to visitors of this troubled region. So long as you respect the local customs and take care to avoid insulting anybody's honour, the Ingush will treat you as an honoured guest because of a strong culture of traditional Islamic hospitality. Always keep political opinions to yourself to avoid any danger.

The Ingushs believe and are proud that they are a freer and more democratic people than the Chechens, and consider their republic to be many times freer than neighboring Chechnya. Indeed, the sole dictatorship of one person is not established here, and the head of the republic changes from time to time, and it won't be difficult to buy alcohol.

Relations between Ingushs and Ossetians are very strained. Try not to touch on this topic, or, for example, praise neighboring North Ossetia in front of the Ingush. The topic of Ingushetia's borders is also sensitive here, since the Ingush claim part of the territory of North Ossetia, and the Chechnya claim most of Ingushetia itself.

Avoid bringing up the Stalin years, as virtually the entire Ingush population was deported to Central Asia in 1944, and almost everyone has lost family members in the forced deportations. It was not until 1957, after Stalin's death, that the survivors were allowed to return.

Mobile
In Ingushetia there are three federal GSM operators (MTS, Beeline, Megafon) and they often have offers that give you a SIM card for free or at least very cheap. If you are planning to stay a while and to keep in touch with Ingushetian and other North-Caucasus people, then you should consider buying a local SIM card instead of going on roaming. To buy a SIM card from a shop you'll need your passport for identification. It only takes five minutes to do the paperwork and it will cost less than US$10.

title: Ingushetia


text:
Inhambane

Inhambane is a sleepy historic town of 80,000 people (2017) some 485 km north of Maputo. It has some great colonial architecture (in a low-key sort of a way) and is considered by many to be one of the prettiest towns in Mozambique. It is situated on a peninsula overlooking a bay, and also serves as a springboard to the coastal resorts around Tofo beach (30 km due east, along a reasonably good road).

From Maputo
When entering Maputo on the toll road from Eswatini (Swaziland) or South Africa, take the EN1 highway north. The off ramp is signposted Xai Xai. The road is relatively good up to Xai-Xai (215 km north), but then deteriorates rapidly: potholes. Drive slowly, unless you are one of those people who believe that potholes are best tackled at speed, in order to "soar over" them. The bad road is only as far as Chidenguele, some 64 km north of Xai Xai. From here on, the road is in good condition.

Beware of petrol attendants at stations along the way; they have been known to take advantage of your unfamiliarity with the metical. One trick to watch out for: the attendant starts filling your tank, but then the pump "blocks". He says he must restart the pump, but since this will constitute a second transaction, he encourages you to memorise the first sum displayed on the pump's meter. He then restarts the pump from zero, clocking up a second transaction. Once the tank is full, he makes a careless arithmetical error in adding up the two amounts. This adding mistake somehow seems to work out in his favor.

Be careful and pay attention to speed limits, especially when approaching and leaving small towns on route. This is prime territory for traffic police who tend to demand unreasonable spot fines. Do not overtake on solid white lines. Remember to take 2 emergency triangles per vehicle or pay a spot fine if stopped and searched. Or you could take a bus from Maputo and avoid having to deal with the Mozambican police entirely.

To go further north (or south to Maputo), it is often necessary to pass through Maxixe, which lies on the other side of the inlet. While it is possible to go to Maxixe without stopping in Inhambane, if you do want to stop in Inhambane, the best way to get to the other side is the ferry. It leaves from the main dock, but please be wary of dhow sailors nearby trying to get you into one of their boats. The dhows, without motors, are slow and expensive, and sometimes don't even make it to the other side. The best way to go is by the ferry, which is quick (10 minutes at most) and cheap (25 meticals).

Do

 * Watersports Canoeing and Dhow trips are a wonderful and relaxing activity for all to enjoy, and not necessarily reserved for athletes.
 * Bazaruto National Sea Park
 * Mocucune Peninsula Visit to chase a chicken for the grill and drink a local beer.

Buy
If you are looking for footwear for the beach, the central market has a wider range of flip-flops than the shoe shops in town.

Eat
You can buy fish and seafood from the local people next to the main road or on the beaches, but be careful when buying items that needs to be weighed with a scale; some of the local people trick tourists by jamming their scales so that the item (fish) weighs more than the actual weight. In the end, the tourist is tricked in paying more. The advice is to take your own scale when buying food items.

Budget
One of the best places to pop in for a quick lunch and stock up on some great food...Is the Chilli Deli (Based at the only Filling station between Inhambane and Tofo).

Mid-range
The Restaurant Macaroca, in the centre of town, serves excellent seafood and chicken dishes at reasonable prices. It's managed by a Swiss, Dani, and his Moçambiquan wife.

Pensao Pachica is a guest house located on the bay of Inhambane about 300 m to the right of the jetty when facing the bay. It boasts a quaint bayside restaurant, bar and pizza parlour. Managed by Dennis Adams, a lovely host and excellent cook. (Crab curry is a must!)

Drink
Pachica is a good place with a variety of people to meet and greet. The Bar has a decent amount of stock with good variety, and Saturday is pizza day (some of the best pizza Moz has to offer). You are normally also lucky enough to meet a few people who are happy to share a few travel stories, and a beer.

Sleep
Many people stay at one of the many resorts located on the beach. These are lovely and inexpensive by world standards; however, they are culturally isolating. 95% of the guests will be white visitors largely from South Africa and Europe.

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

title: Inhambane


text:
Inhassoro

Inhassoro is a beach town in Southern Mozambique.

Get in
Inhassoro is 12km from the main EN1 highway (crossing Mozambique from North to South). If arriving by public transport, get off at the turn, and leave your bags on the side of the road while you wait for a car to stop by. Wave down anything heading in the direction of Inhassoro and the fare (if you have to pay) will be between 15-50 MZN.

Get off when the driver turns off the main road, or when you see the sea. There will be an ATM to signify that you're in the town.

See
Inhassoro is situated on the mainland on the idyllic Ocean shores of Mozambique opposite the northern point of Bazaruto Island, a protected reserve with around 200 species of fascinating birdlife and spectacular coral reefs.

Go next

 * Vilanculos

title: Inhassoro


text:
Inis Mór

Inis Mór (Inishmore) is the largest of the Aran Islands of County Galway, off the west coast of Ireland. The name simply means "big island" and there are half-a-dozen such places in Ireland, but this one is by far the biggest and most populous of that name. Its port Cill Rónáin (Kilronan) is the main settlement, with (in 2022) 820 of the Aran Islands total population of 1350. It's a short ferry ride or flight from the mainland and the chief visitor attraction is Dún Aonghasa prehistoric fort.

Understand
Inis Mór and the other Aran Islands are an extension of the Burren limestone country of County Clare. The terrain has been scraped bare by glaciation and lacks natural topsoil, so it's a poor prospect for farming. People probably fled here from prehistoric turmoils on the mainland, and the oldest remains are the line of forts that go back to 1000 BC. The rock-strewn fields were gradually cleared by heaping the rocks into walls, seaweed was heaped on for fertiliser, and dirt from cracks in the limestone was gathered for topsoil. The result is a green and grey treeless mosaic, ending abruptly in cliffs. Tourism is nowadays the main industry.

Inis Mór and the two other islands are Gaeltachtaí, where Irish is the primary language. Everyone is fluent in English, but place names and other signage are in Irish. However this page gives more prominence to the English (and unofficial) versions of names, simply because it's the English version of a multilingual travel guide, and most Anglophones need a bit of help with pronunciation. How would you ask the way to Cill Mhuirbhigh? — it's Kilmurvey, simple once you know.

Get in
Tours and travel packages from Dublin are often available, and there's even a day-trip starting from Dublin Heuston at 7:30AM to connect with a flight to Inis Mór.

By boat
There are two ferry routes from the mainland, from Rossaveel 40 km west of Galway year round, and from Doolin in County Clare in summer. Of old there was a ferry from Galway city itself, and there's occasional talk of resuming this, but to date just talk.

From Rossaveel: Aran Island Ferries sail at least twice a day year round, with six a day at the height of summer. The crossing takes 40 min and a day-trip is feasible. In summer 2020 an adult return fare was €30, booking advised. A shuttle bus from Eyre Square in Galway connects with all sailings, return fare €9. Cars can be carried on some sailings but you don't need one on the island, park at Rossaveel anywhere that won't inconvenience residents or harbour users.

From Doolin: the Doolin Ferry sails 3 or 4 times a day Mar-Oct taking 40 min, foot passengers only, €30 return. A day-trip is feasible.

Between the islands: the Rossaveel and Doolin ferries call at Inis Oirr and Inis Meain on their way to and from Inis Mór, but not on all sailings. Inter-island day trips are possible most days in summer but seldom in winter.

is on the sheltered northeast bay by the settlement of Kilronan. The grassy islet in the harbour is Straw Island — the structure there is a harbour light rather than a lighthouse.

By plane
Aer Árann fly several times a day from Connemara Airport at Inverin, 31 km west of Galway city. There are at least a couple of flights daily year round, rising to eight in the August peak season. In summer 2020 a return fare was €50. Flying time is just 10 min and a day trip is always feasible. The aircraft are a pair of rinky-dinky BNF Islanders that only take 9 passengers; they rattle around in the breeze and are often cancelled in bad weather. Aer Árann also fly from Connemara to Inis Meain and Inis Oírr but all their flights are turnaround trips, there are no inter-island flights.

is at Killeany near the east tip of the island.

Get around

A paved lane leads from the airfield to Kilronan then three lanes run west to Kilmurvy. Most traffic takes the central "Main Road". There's a slower scenic "Low Road" along the north coast, and a meandering no-hurry-no-worry "Back Road" towards the south coast.

There are no taxis, car rentals or scheduled buses on any of the Aran Islands.

Aran Bus Tours do 2-3 hour sightseeing tours of the island.

Thomas Faherty Tours will take you round in a pony and trap.

Aran Bike Hire are based near the ferry pier. Daily rates (as of 2020) are €30 for mountain or road bikes and €10 for a trailer or tag-along. They're open daily 9AM-5PM.

Walk if you've got the legs and the boots for it. But once you leave the paved roads, you are on very rough rocks.

See

 * Most tourists head straight from the airfield or port to Dún Aonghasa; try to time your visit to miss them.

 * or blow-holes (Na Poill Seideáin) are found in several places but the two best are near the east tip. The sea gloops and sploshes deep within them, and in rough weather the wave action hurls spray, sand and seaweed high in the air. Take care, they're unfenced.
 * (Teaghlach Einne) lies beneath the ruin of a 9th-century church. Enda (c 450-530) was one of several early Christian saints associated with the island. There are many old graves and crosses: one cross inscription depicts the Horseman of the Apocalypse, who was expected to show up in the year 1000 AD.
 * (Benen's Church) is said to be the world's smallest church. But at 3 m by 2 m it's obviously not the smallest, and it's not a church but an oratory, where monks chanted prayers for their founder Benen, aka Saint Benignus of Armagh, a disciple of Saint Patrick. He died in 467 AD and is presumably buried here, so the tomb-shrine was spared while the monastery here was obliterated in Cromwell's time. The present building dates from 11th century and is aligned north-south, while church orientation east-west was standard by that date. You mainly come for the striking position, with its high gables etched against the skyline.
 * is a Cromwell-era fort at Killeany that replaced a 16th-century castle. There's not much left of it but the seaward wall. There wasn't an occupier called Arkin, but arcin means a natural harbour - in the days of small vessels Killeany had as much sea traffic as Kilronan.
 * St Ciaran's Church is a medieval ruin at Mainistir near the hostel. At the foot of the nearby cliff is a natural holy (or healing) well. Saint Ciarán (circa 516-549) studied on Inis Mór before founding the monastery at Clonmacnoise.
 * is a sturdy rectangular tower on the highest point of the island, at 122 m. It was built 1806-08 to watch for Napoleonic attack, within sight of similar stations on Inis Oirr and Lettermullan. Signals were exchanged by flags. It was abandoned circa 1814 but in 1818 Inishmore lighthouse opened here, initially using the station tower then a purpose-built cylindrical tower adjacent. But being on high ground it was often wraithed in clouds, and captains complained that they needed to find the rocks in order to locate the lighthouse. And it didn't mark the ends of the island chain, which was what shipping in and out of Galway Bay most needed to know. It was replaced in 1857 by lights at either end: on Inis Oirr to the east and by Eeragh lighthouse on the rocks to the west; the harbour light of Straw Island was added later. You can stroll around the station and tower exteriors free, but beware crumbling masonry. The site has been nominally "closed for restoration" for ever and a day.
 * Dún Eochla ring fort is 150 m east of the Signal Station, you'll have to hike across the fields. Built 550-800 AD, it has two sturdy circular walls, restored to their original 6 m. It's free and always accessible. Satellite imaging also reveals a mysterious circular structure another 200 m east... no, it's just a modern water tank.
 * or Worm Hole (Poll Na bPéist) is a rectangular pool connected to the sea by a submerged passage, so the water within it slowly heaves up and overflows then subsides. Chisel marks suggest that a natural feature was enlarged at an unknown date. The pool is 15 m deep, so you can swim or snorkel, and divers can go through the passage. In 2017 the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series was held here. Approach either along the lane from Kilmurvey or along the clifftops from Dún Aonghasa.
 * recalls that writer, born on Inis Mór in 1896; he died in Dublin in 1984 and his ashes were scattered here. He wrote mostly in English, and censorship by the Committee on Evil Literature helped his fame no end.
 * (Na Seacht dTeampaill) is an ancient religious site, with only two churches, the rest are outbuildings. St Brecan's Church (Teampall Bhreacáin) was built 8th-13th century and the ruin still has an impressive arch, nave and chancel. The smaller Church of the Hollow (Teampall an Phoill) is 15th C. Various monks' and pilgrims' cells, crosses and inscribed gravestones surround the churches, but the two holy wells have disappeared. The site is free and always open.
 * is a ring fort from perhaps 500 BC, containing remains of clocháin, drystone beehive cottages. The site is free to enter.
 * perches on the Brannock Rocks off the west tip of the island.
 * is a ring fort from perhaps 500 BC, containing remains of clocháin, drystone beehive cottages. The site is free to enter.
 * perches on the Brannock Rocks off the west tip of the island.

Do

 * Swim at any of the quiet, sheltered Atlantic beaches. There are several in Kilronan and one in Kilmurvey, freely accessible. You'll need a hot drink after!
 * Scuba dive at the many dive sites around the island. There are no diving facilities so you'll have to bring a self-sufficient trip. Dry suit recommended.
 * Ted Fest is held annually in March on Inis Mór by admirers of the Father Ted TV sitcom, first screened on Channel 4 1995-98. Most of the TV locations were on the mainland, though the opening sequence of "Craggy Island" depicts nearby Inis Oirr.

Buy

 * Shops near the pier sell Aran Island handmade wool sweaters. So does Man of Aran Cottage near Kilmurvey House; it's no longer a B&B.
 * Spar near the pier has various essentials. It's open M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-6PM.

Eat

 * Pier House Kilronan (see Sleep) does good Irish breakfasts.
 * Tigh Nan Phaidi is a cafe with a good selection of food. It's next to Kilmurvey House 6 km west of Kilronan, see Sleep.
 * Tigh Nan Phaidi is a cafe with a good selection of food. It's next to Kilmurvey House 6 km west of Kilronan, see Sleep.

Drink

 * Aran Islands Hotel has a public bar, see Sleep.
 * Tigh Joe Mac, Kilronan, is the cosy pub where the locals drink. Great views.

Sleep

 * Wild camping is possible, as the island is covered by metre-high stone walls, so you can slip into the fields and camp for a night. Anything left outside will be wet in the morning.
 * Sea Crest is in Kilronan by the harbour, B&B double €80.
 * Sea Crest is in Kilronan by the harbour, B&B double €80.
 * Sea Crest is in Kilronan by the harbour, B&B double €80.
 * Sea Crest is in Kilronan by the harbour, B&B double €80.

Connect
As of June 2020, you'll get a mobile signal and 4G in Kilronan with Eir or Three. Most of the rest of the island is dead though you might catch a mainland signal on the higher ground near, appropriately, the Signal Station. Vodafone has nothing here and 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Inis Meain and Inis Oirr are the other inhabited islands.
 * On the mainland at Rossaveel, head east for Galway city or west for the Connemara coast.
 * At Doolin see the Cliffs of Moher and the sparse limestone scenery of the Burren.

title: Inis Mór


text:
Inis Meáin

Inis Meáin, or Inishmaan, is the middle island of the three Aran Islands of County Galway in the west of Ireland. It's about 5 km by 3 km with a population in 2022 of 184, whose primary language is Irish. Like the others it's an extension of the mainland's limestone Burren, with stony terrain and little ground suitable for farming. It's the least touristy of the three but has transport and visitor amenities; Dún Conor ring fort is its main sight.

By boat
There are two ferry routes from the mainland, from Rossaveel 40 km west of Galway year round, and from Doolin in County Clare in summer. .

From Rossaveel Aran Island Ferries sail at least twice a day year round, with eight a day at the height of summer. The crossing takes 40 min and a day-trip is feasible. In summer 2020 an adult return fare was €30, booking advised. A shuttle bus from Eyre Square in Galway connects with all sailings, return fare €9. Never bring a vehicle (even a motorbike) to Inis Meáin, park at Rossaveel anywhere that won't inconvenience residents or harbour users.

From Doolin the Doolin Ferry sails 3 or 4 times a day Mar-Oct taking 40 min, foot passengers only, €30 return. A day-trip is feasible.

Between the islands: the Rossaveel and Doolin ferries are heading for Inis Mór but call at Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr on their way out or back. So you may have to sail via Inis Mór, in which case the journey from the mainland will be 70 min. Inter-island day trips are possible most days in summer but seldom in winter.

is on the north tip of the island. This is the new harbour and landing stage, built in 2007. It's 1.5 km north of the village, which is above the traditional landing point on the east coast.

By plane
Aer Árann fly several times a day from Connemara Airport at Inverin, 31 km west of Galway city. There are at least a couple of flights daily year round, more in the August peak season. In summer 2020 a return fare was €50. Flying time is just 10 min and a day trip is always feasible. The aircraft are a pair of rinky-dinky BNF Islanders that only take 9 passengers; they rattle around in the breeze and are often cancelled in bad weather. Aer Árann also fly from Connemara to Inis Mór and Inis Oírr but all these flights are turnaround trips, there are no inter-island flights.

is in the northeast corner of the island.

Get around
Walk everywhere. The village and main sights are in the centre of the island near the old landing jetty. Perhaps your accommodation will pick you up from the new pier or airfield; otherwise just hike up the lane and be grateful you're not lumping a heavy basketful of kelp to your rain-lashed field.

See

 * Carrownlisheen Cross stands 100 m south of the cashel.
 * , which translates as "church of the seven sons of the king", is the scrappy remains of a church from 8th-10th century AD. By it are Leaba Cinndeirge, the grave of St Cinndeirg, and Tobar Cinndeirge her holy well; nothing is known of her life and deeds. The adjacent Roman Catholic church is from 1938 but has re-used some of the old stones.
 * Teach Synge just west of Templesaghtmacree is the cottage where JM Synge spent summer 1898-1902. The island influenced his Playboy of the Western World and Riders to the Sea. It's now a small museum, hours erratic, €3.
 * is the sheltered spot on the cliff edge where JMS used to enjoy sitting and watching the view. There's a good walk along the clifftops south from here. The clochan or beehive cell on the lane from the village may be 6th C.
 * is a cashel probably much later than Dún Conor, say 9th century AD. Unusually, it's square not round.
 * is a smaller ringfort adjacent.
 * Cill Cheannanach (Church of the Canons or of St Gregory) is near the old landing stage on the east of the island.
 * was built 4000–2500 BC, so even the latest of those dates would make it by far the oldest human structure on these islands.
 * was built 4000–2500 BC, so even the latest of those dates would make it by far the oldest human structure on these islands.

Do

 * Beach: the best is Ceann Gainimh just north of the airfield.

Buy

 * Inis Meáin Knitting Co is in the village.

Sleep

 * There's no campsite, but ask around if you can pay to pitch a tent in someone's field.

Connect
Finish up any urgent calls on the ferry, which may have a signal from Eir. But on the island, as of June 2020 some individual premises have connections but there's no general coverage.

Go next

 * Inis Mór has many prehistoric and early Christian sites, and dramatic cliffs.
 * Inis Oírr also has early Christian sites, though it's most familiar as "Craggy Island" with a shipwreck from the opening sequence of the sitcom Father Ted.
 * On the mainland at Rossaveel, head east for Galway city or west for the Connemara coast.
 * At Doolin see the Cliffs of Moher and the sparse limestone scenery of the Burren.

title: Inis Meáin


text:
Inis Oírr

Inis Óirr or Inisheer is the smallest and most easterly of the Aran Islands of County Galway in the west of Ireland. It's only 10 km from the Cliffs of Moher on the mainland coast of County Clare, and is formed of the same bare limestone as the Burren. The island's main settlement straggles along its north coast near the ferry pier.

Understand
The island's name probably reflects a spelling mistake. The traditional name was Inis Thiar which can mean "west island" but in this context meant something like "tail-end island". Maps from the 19th century dubbed it Inis Oirthir, "east island", which morphed into the current Inis Oírr. Like the other Aran Islands, its terrain is fissured limestone pavement: the "clints" or slabs are bare, while the "grikes" or grooves shelter wild flowers. It's a poor prospect for farming and has long attracted those seeking monastic solitude, so it's dotted with early Christian sites. Inis Oírr's population actually rose during the famine years to peak at 532: it dwindled to 257 by 1979 and recovered to 343 in 2022. Tourism is the main industry and Irish is the principal language.

By boat
There are two ferry routes from the mainland, from Rossaveel 40 km west of Galway year round, and from Doolin in County Clare in summer.

From Rossaveel Aran Island Ferries sail at least twice a day year round, with eight a day at the height of summer. The crossing takes 40 min and a day-trip is feasible. In summer 2020 an adult return fare was €30, booking advised. A shuttle bus from Eyre Square in Galway connects with all sailings, return fare €9. Never bring a vehicle (even a motorbike) to Inis Oírr, park at Rossaveel anywhere that won't inconvenience residents or harbour users.

From Doolin the Doolin Ferry sails 3 or 4 times a day Mar-Oct taking 40 min, foot passengers only, €30 return. A day-trip is feasible.

Between the islands: the Rossaveel and Doolin ferries are heading for Inis Mór but call at Inis Oirr and Inis Meain on their way out or back. So you may have to sail via Inis Mór, in which case the journey from the mainland will be 90 min. Inter-island day trips are possible most days in summer but seldom in winter.

is on the northeast of the island, along with pretty much everything else.

By plane
Aer Árann fly several times a day from Connemara Airport at Inverin, 31 km west of Galway city. There are at least a couple of flights daily year round, more in the August peak season. In summer 2020 a return fare was €50. Flying time is just 10 min and a day trip is always feasible. The aircraft are a pair of rinky-dinky BNF Islanders that only take 9 passengers; they rattle around in the breeze and are often cancelled in bad weather. Aer Árann also fly from Connemara to Inis Meain and Inis Mór but all these flights are turnaround trips, there are no inter-island flights.

is 1 km east of the harbour and main settlement.

Get around
Walk. All the visitor facilities and most of the sights are within 1 km of the ferry pier. So if you go further, it's because you feel like it and the weather's decent, not because you must to reach a hostel. Some five lanes lead from the harbour, heading southwest parallel like bony fingers. They're paved for a km or two then give way to boreen, unpaved lanes of grass and rock. There are few cross-links so to move between them (eg to follow the south coast) you have to launch out onto the natural limestone pavement.

Tours by pony and trap, or by "Wanderly Wagon" (a tractor-drawn trailer), start from the pier.

See

 * is a tumulus, a burial mound. Its lowest layers date to 1500 BC, the earliest known settlement on Aran, while the upper layers are from the early Christian era of 600-900 AD. It was lost under sand until exposed by a storm in 1885.
 * (Caislean Ui Bhriain or "Furmina Castle") is a tower house, built and held by the O'Briens in the 15th C, captured by the O'Flahertys circa 1582, then demolished by Cromwell in 1652. The site is usually free to enter though sometimes the gate is locked. You might notice the outline of the much earlier ringfort Dún Formna. The castle is on the highest point of the island so it commands great views.
 * An Tur Faire (The Watch Tower) 100 m south of the castle was a Signal Station, built 1806-08 to guard against Napoleonic attack. There's a chain of them around the coast, such as on Inis Mor; they exchanged signals by flags.
 * Teampall Caomhán (Church of St Cavan) is 10th century, with an entrance below ground as it became buried in sand; the ruin has been given a modern roof to prevent it filling up again. The saint's name is sometimes anglicised as Kevin, but St Kevin was a much earlier fellow who founded Glendalough. St Cavan died circa 865 and is buried here. A mass is held on his pattern (ie patron-saint) day, which in the 19th century was shifted from 3 Nov to 15 June. The church is next to the airfield and is always accessible.
 * (Church of St Gobnait) is the ruin of an 11th- or 12th-century church. It's located over the site of her 6th-century cell, but the beehive cell now seen here is probably of similar age to the church. The legend goes that Gobnait fled here from a family feud, but an angel told her to return to the mainland and go south till she saw nine white deer. The requisite number, coating and species jackpot came up in Ballyvourney, County Cork, where she founded a convent.
 * St Fiachra's Holy Well is close to St Gobnait's Church.
 * surround the island but they like to haul out at the bay 1 km west of the pier. Both species are seen: the Common or Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) has a puppy-dog nose, the larger Grey or Atlantic seal (Halichoerus grypus) has a Roman nose.
 * An Chloch (The Stone) is above the southwest end of the seal beach. Erected in 2013, it commemorates those lost at sea: I gCuimhne ar an dream a thóg an fharraige uainn.
 * (St Enda's Well) is a pool with ancient stonework and slippery powers. So what you do is, on three consecutive Sundays gather seven stones from the ground nearby, walk around the well seven times while saying the rosary and setting down one stone each circuit. If following this hocus-pocus an eel manifests itself, then your tongue will gain healing powers and you can literally lick wounds healthy. It'll save a lot of bother at Galway University Hospital Clinic for Rancid Diseases Below the Waist, so it's a pity frogs and newts don't convey such powers.
 * is a cashel or stone fort from around 1st century BC. Some of its masonry was recycled in the 15th C to make O'Brien's Castle. Here also is the Grave of the Seven Daughters (Cill na Seacht nIníon) from the 5th or 6th century AD and dedicated to St Moninne of Armagh.
 * or Plassey shipwreck is the one seen in the title sequence of Father Ted. The ship was launched in 1940 as Juliet, served as a Royal Navy minesweeper then after the war was sold off as a small cargo vessel. In 1951 it was bought by the Limerick Steamship Company, who renamed it Plassy (or, if you prefer, Plassey) after the district in Limerick city which is named after "Clive of India" Baron Plassey, who took his title from the 1757 Battle of Plassey, fought against the Nawab of Bengal at Palashi on the Hooghly River above Calcutta, that town being named for the brilliantly flowered Pôlash (Bengali: পলাশ), otherwise known as Butea frondosa or Flame-of-the-Forest Tree... still following this? The ship plied around Europe until March 1960 when it was driven onto Finnis Rock in a storm. The crew were dramatically rescued by breeches buoy, which is a rocket-fired pants-on-a-string. A few weeks later, a second storm washed the ship off the rock and onto the shore of the island — it thus resembled Father Jack, being a washed-up old wreck full of whisky. In 2014 another storm shifted it, so the view today doesn't quite match the TV image. But there it rusts, taking on the colour of the Flame-of-the-Forest Tree.
 * was lit in 1857 to replace the badly-sited Inishmore lighthouse, which captains complained they could only locate by first finding the rocks. Inisheer marks the east end of the Aran Islands chain, with Eeragh lighthouse off Inis Mór marking the west end. The compound around the lighthouse is private property.

Do

 * Walk: pretty much as you please along the lanes. Waymarked routes include an 8 km loop east as far as the lough and Plassy wreck, and a 13 km loop which also takes in St Enda's Well.
 * Beaches: the two best are An Trá, which helpfully means "the beach", in the bay east of the harbour, and Trá Poll na gCaorach ("Horseshoe Beach") south of the Plassy wreck.
 * Ted Fest is held annually in March on Inis Mór by admirers of the Father Ted TV sitcom. The organisers acknowledge the anomaly that the other islands don't participate, though the opening sequence depicts the Plassy wreck on Inis Oírr which is as craggy an island as you could wish for. They therefore hope to broaden the event.
 * Cleasthon is a road race held in late spring. Distances are 5k, 10k and 20k, they don't stretch to a marathon.
 * Craiceann Bodhran Festival is held at the end of June. Craiceann means drumskin, and it's a masterclass and series of gigs around these traditional Irish drums.
 * Currach Racing is in mid-August. A currach is a rowing boat with animal hide (nowadays canvas) stretched over a wooden frame and coated in pitch. Sturdier fishing currachs in Galway had planking and sometimes had a sail, and nowadays an outboard motor, but the racing boats are the lightweight canvas type. There's no rudder so the rowers must steer. The races are accompanied by various onshore sports and ballyhoo.

Eat

 * An Currach by the beach does fish & chips. It's open daily 09:00-17:00.
 * Two other nearby cafes are Man of Aran Fudge and Craggy Ices.
 * Two other nearby cafes are Man of Aran Fudge and Craggy Ices.

Drink

 * And see Sleep for Óstán Inis Óirr, and Eat for Tigh Ruairí.
 * And see Sleep for Óstán Inis Óirr, and Eat for Tigh Ruairí.

Sleep

 * The island campsite has closed and (as of June 2020) there's nowhere to camp on Inis Oírr.
 * B&Bs on the island include South Aran House, Radharc an Chaislean and Cliffs of Moher View.
 * B&Bs on the island include South Aran House, Radharc an Chaislean and Cliffs of Moher View.

Connect
Finish up any urgent calls on the ferry, which will have a signal from Eir or Three. But on the island, as of June 2020 individual premises have connections but there's no general coverage.

Go next

 * Inis Mór has many prehistoric and early Christian sites to explore, and dramatic cliffs.
 * Inis Meain isn't on the tourist circuit, so go there for island tranquility.
 * On the mainland at Rossaveel, head east for Galway city or west for the Connemara coast.
 * At Doolin see the Cliffs of Moher and the sparse limestone scenery of the Burren.

title: Inis Oírr


text:
Inje

Inje (인제군) is a county in Gangwon province in the far north of South Korea.

Understand
Inje is famous for its beautiful nature. Over ninety percent of the region is formed of mountains or valleys, such as Mt. Seoraksan, Mt. Bangtaesan, Daecheong Peak, and Naerincheon Valley. You can take a trip to several mineral water springs and natural forest resorts. It is also a great place for the various leisure tours, such as rafting, bungee jumping, MTB, paragliding, four wheel biking, or climbing an artificial waterfall!

The northern part of Inje is in the Korean DMZ, and plenty of South Korean military activity in the area. Musk deer and Asiatic black bears can be found in this remote region.

See

 * Naerincheon Stream: It takes about three hours to get there by car from Inje city. The 70 kilometer stream starts from Mt. Odaesan National Park, winds around the steep mountains and valleys, and flows into the North Hangang River. It is one of the cleanest streams in Korea. When spring comes, the thick ice of the valleys starts to melt. The Lenok, which is a type of salmon, starts to swim upstream to lay eggs. When you notice scarlet royal azaleas blossom along the stream and the water becomes cobalt blue, you can say summer has come. When fall comes in the valley, red and yellow leaves reflected on the surface of the stream seem to dye the water red and yellow. Winter in the valley has a short temper, so it doesn’t wait until December. You can see white snow sparkling all over the valley in early November. When you see this magnificent sight, you have no choice but to be spellbound.
 * Mountain biking is another attractive sport available in Naerincheon. The steep mountains and bumpy roads along the stream encourage you to pedal on your bike harder. The harder you pedal the more spectacular scenes you can see.

Do

 * Inje Icefish Festival and Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival (Every mid January~mid February) : The Inje Icefish Festival and the Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival, the most popular winter festivals of Gangwon-do, are both held on the white ice fields created by frozen lakes. Catching the smelt and mountain trout that live in pure water is a fun experience for many Koreans.  A variety of snow and ice events, such as snow-sledding, an igloo exhibition, and snow sculptures, are also held, but the most exciting experience is walking and running on the thick ice of the frozen lakes!
 * Snow Flake Festival (Daegwallyeong /Mt. Taebaeksan/Mt. Seoraksan) (Mid January, for nine days): Winter in Gangwon-do is full of white snow everywhere. Across the mountains in Gangwon-do, visitors can enjoy a wide array of events such as ice sculpture contests, climbing ice covered cliffs, and snow sleds like the old days.
 * Inje adventure complex: 90 percent of Inje, where two-thirds of the Seoraksan Mountains are located, is mountainous. This natural environment blessed by heaven was developed with a three-adventure complex, each ideally befitting the natural topography. Visitors can experience the true enjoyment of outdoor sports, as it is equipped with facilities for beginners and the advanced.

Go next

 * The Seoraksan National Park lies between Inje and the east sea.

title: Inje


text:
Inland (San Diego County)

The Inland region of San Diego County is a large area that includes suburbs and rural towns in brushy valleys, mountains, and arid desert.

Cities

 * - A small desert town in the midst of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
 * - A small town near the Mexican border, home to a few historical attractions and a railroad museum.
 * - The largest city of the region, mostly suburban in character.
 * - A popular mountain town famed for its wineries and fruit orchards, as well as its access to nearby outdoor recreational opportunities.
 * - A mostly suburban area in the foothills of the mountains, with many outdoor recreation opportunities.
 * - A small suburban city along a San Diego Trolley line, with a couple of malls and a modest downtown area offering shops and restaurants.
 * - Once noted for its lemon groves, today this is a largely suburban community.
 * - A small agricultural town.
 * - A rapidly growing suburban city north of El Cajon.

Other destinations

 * - Covering much of the easternmost reaches of the region, this vast desert wilderness makes up the largest state park in California and offers amble opportunities for getting into the arid backcountry and take in desert scenery.
 * - Covering much of the mountainous areas of the region.
 * - Just off I-8 (In-Ko-Pah Road, exit 77) on the eastern edge of the county, at the Imperial County border, is this stone tower dating back to the 1920s. Once a stop along the then-treacherous journey between San Diego and Yuma, Arizona, today it is a museum with artifacts from the tower's history, offering a scenic view of the desert to the east and holding a collection of boulders crafted into beautiful carvings.

Get in
Driving is the primary way of accessing this region. Save for the concentration of suburban cities on the western-most edge of the area (Lemon Grove, La Mesa, El Cajon, and Santee), which are served by the San Diego Trolley and some degree of MTS bus service, public transit in this area is very sparse. I-8 crosses across the southern portion of this region, connecting to San Diego to the west and Imperial County to the east. SR 94 parallels I-8 further south, running between San Diego and Jacumba, while SR 78 crosses across the northern portion of the region, connecting to North County to the west and Imperial County to the east.

Do

 * Rock climbing is very popular in the area, with many excellent spots. Specialist climbing companies offer guided rock climbing from professional climbers for the beginner to the experienced climber. All the climbing companies provide all the required equipment such as helmets, shoes and harnesses, and usually require an orientation meeting the week of the climb for all participants. They are also a great resource of information on the best local climbs. El Cajon Mountain is one of the hidden gems for local climbers. There are over 70 multipitch routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.13 on the granite wall. There is a stout 90 minute approach hike to the cliff but well worth the effort for the quality of climbing you will find here. Mount Woodson is a world class bouldering and toproping area with over 500 climbs. Crack climbing and thin face climbs mostly in the 5.10 and 5.11 range can be found on the mountain. Close to the Mexican border is Valley of the Moon, about an hour and a half drive east of San Diego. You need a four-wheel drive for the last leg of the drive. This is mostly a sport route area with a few crack climbs and the best time of year to visit this area is fall through spring due to the desert-like climate. Santee Boulders in the town of Santee is a very popular destination for the casual climber. Extremely easy access and parking makes a visit to these 30 granite boulders a popular after work hang out, where all you will need are a decent pair of climbing shoes and a chalk bag. Stonewall Peak at 5730 feet and consisting primarily of granite, is located off Highway 79 in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park about 9 miles south of Julian. It is a relatively easy hike that takes about one hour to the summit. Formerly a mine that was closed n 1892, it was originally known as the “Stonewall Jackson Mine,” named after the great Confederate General. About a mile away there is also Middle Peak, another relatively easy climb at 5883 feet, even though there may still be a few restrictions imposed by the rangers after the 2003 forest fires.
 * Gambling is also a big draw to the area. There are numerous gaming sites, all operated by local Indian tribes scattered throughout the Inland region and ranging from full-blown resorts to one-room bingo halls. Some offer hotels, golf courses, concert venues, and shopping outlets. Barona Valley Ranch north of Lakeside, Harrahs Resort and Pala Casino along SR 76 east of I-15, Viejas Casino and Golden Acorn Casino along I-8, and Sycuan Resort in El Cajon are among the largest venues. "The big three"; Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas, all feature a distinct policy of allowing those 18 years or older to gamble, while most others follow a 21+ plus rule. Alcohol may or may not be served at some locations.

Go next

 * Tecate lies south across the border in Mexico, just off SR 94 between San Diego and Campo. Beyond being a relatively uncrowded border crossing, the town is also home to the brewery for the popular Tecate brand.

title: Inland (San Diego County)


text:
Inland Cities (Orange County)

Orange County's inland region is densely populated. Most of the cities here are suburban communities with light industry and commercial offices and services.

Cities

 * - The most populous city in Orange County, home of the famous theme park and two major sports teams: the Anaheim Ducks hockey team and the Los Angeles Angels baseball franchise.
 * - Best known as the home of the popular Knott's Berry Farm amusement park.
 * - Home to the Orange County Fairgrounds, a large performing arts center, and the large South Coast Plaza shopping mall.
 * - Home to Cal State Fullerton, the Fullerton Arboretum, and Downtown Fullerton.
 * - Home to the Crystal Cathedral, a stunningly huge structure of glass used as the cathedral of the local Roman Catholic Diocese.
 * - A somewhat gentrified community with a significant Asian-American heritage, this is one of youngest and largest cities in Orange County.
 * - Among the oldest of Orange County's cities, Orange is home to a historic downtown district surrounding a plaza, large parks, and a major outdoor shopping mall.
 * - A small and charming historic town that's home to a beautiful Spanish mission.
 * - The seat of Orange County, home to a number of museums and a small historic downtown.
 * - A small city with a prominent Vietnamese-American population — arguably the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — with many Vietnamese shops and restaurants.
 * - A somewhat gentrified community with a significant Asian-American heritage, this is one of youngest and largest cities in Orange County.
 * - Among the oldest of Orange County's cities, Orange is home to a historic downtown district surrounding a plaza, large parks, and a major outdoor shopping mall.
 * - A small and charming historic town that's home to a beautiful Spanish mission.
 * - The seat of Orange County, home to a number of museums and a small historic downtown.
 * - A small city with a prominent Vietnamese-American population — arguably the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — with many Vietnamese shops and restaurants.
 * - Among the oldest of Orange County's cities, Orange is home to a historic downtown district surrounding a plaza, large parks, and a major outdoor shopping mall.
 * - A small and charming historic town that's home to a beautiful Spanish mission.
 * - The seat of Orange County, home to a number of museums and a small historic downtown.
 * - A small city with a prominent Vietnamese-American population — arguably the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — with many Vietnamese shops and restaurants.
 * - A small and charming historic town that's home to a beautiful Spanish mission.
 * - The seat of Orange County, home to a number of museums and a small historic downtown.
 * - A small city with a prominent Vietnamese-American population — arguably the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — with many Vietnamese shops and restaurants.
 * - A small city with a prominent Vietnamese-American population — arguably the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — with many Vietnamese shops and restaurants.
 * - A small city with a prominent Vietnamese-American population — arguably the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam — with many Vietnamese shops and restaurants.

Understand
This is a large conurbation of residential and commercial areas, the border between individual cities sometime a little subtle. There are however between the cities large differences in wealth as well as distinctive cultural and ethnic differences in some suburbs.

By plane
is the best and closest plane connection into the area and to avoid the traffic congestion from LAX. is also worth considering if connections are available.

Get around
Although the OCTA provide a good coverage of the area with buses this is a car metropolitan. People drive everywhere, it is rare to see people walking outside of the malls and a couple of cities that have retail streets.

The majority of the roads have a grid structure. Having the relative position of a few north-south and a few east-west roads in your head will be enough to get around the region without a map, although it takes a little time to remember exactly where the diagonally running Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 cross the main grid roads.

Go next

 * Beach Cities
 * Gateway Cities

title: Inland Cities (Orange County)


text:
Inland Empire

The Inland Empire of Southern California is a semi-arid region, east of Los Angeles, made up of scores of cities and towns. The boundaries are often a subject of debate, however, it is generally agreed that the western boundary is the San Bernardino County/Los Angeles County line and the eastern limits are the most urbanized areas of San Bernardino County and Riverside County. The population of the Inland Empire is over 4 million residents. When taken as the Greater Los Angeles Area, which stretches from the western edge of Ventura County to the eastern boundary of the Inland Empire, this region has a combined population of 17 million. The Inland Empire has its roots in agriculture, primarily citrus and wine-making. The "IE" is home to many worthwhile attractions.

Cities

 * is the county seat of Riverside County, about 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
 * is the county seat of San Bernardino County, about 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
 * is the commercial center of the region and home to the area's international airport and main shopping areas.

Understand
Some of the cities of the Inland Empire include Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Highland, Rialto, and Fontana, among many others. These cities all lie in San Bernardino or Riverside counties. The Palm Springs area, which also lies in Riverside County in "the low desert", is farther east and is considered part of Coachella Valley. Similarly, the communities of Victorville and Hesperia lie north of the San Bernardino Mountains in the "high desert." The desert communities are generally not considered part of the IE.

Native Americans called the Inland Empire home for thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers in the 18th century. Residents would spend winters in the warmer valleys and move into the cooler mountains during summer months.

Throughout much of the 19th and 20th century, agriculture was the dominant industry for the region. In the post-World War II decades, there was an explosion of residents and industry as developers turned to cheap land east of Los Angeles. Although the area is often criticized for its sprawling developments that are incredibly automobile-dependent, many cities have made an effort to encourage denser housing developments centered around commercial and office-park developments. Today, the region's growth continues as housing prices remain incredibly affordable and residents from Orange and Los Angeles counties swell the area's population.

The Inland Empire is densely populated, with 4.2 million residents. However, the area isn't as totally self-sufficient in the regard that many residents still commute to their jobs in the adjacent Los Angeles metropolitan area of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Inland Empire residents also tend to travel to Los Angeles and its immediate environs for activities such as zoos, aquariums, theme parks, planetariums, higher-rated museums, and such. This isn't to say the Inland Empire is without its own attractions as it has some good theatres, nearby mountains, lakes, and enjoyable restaurants and malls. But it does show that the Inland Empire is not just a stand-alone metropolitan area, but also an integrated part of the Greater Los Angeles area.

Talk
Like the rest of California and the nation, English is the main language spoken. But like many American regions that border Mexico, Spanish is widely spoken by some residents as well as some employees at restaurants, stores, and businesses. That being said, there are certainly many parts of the region where knowing some basic Spanish will go a long way in helping you receive better service at restaurants and businesses. Some residents, however, advocate the opposite, feeling that those who speak only Spanish can give and receive better service by learning some basic English.

By plane
LA/Ontario International Airport  is the main airport for the Inland Empire. Almost all domestic airlines serve the airport and there are a handful of flights to Mexico depending on the season.

Commercial airports in Los Angeles, Burbank, Santa Ana, and Long Beach (all outside the Inland Empire, but still in the Greater L.A. area) can be used, but they are about a one-hour drive away without traffic -and chances are there is going to be traffic in Southern California.

San Bernardino International Airport , in the Inland Empire, has built a passenger terminal, but receives few scheduled flights. It is a commuter airport mainly for private aircraft (Nov 2018).

Other smaller municipal and private airports dot the landscape as well, including Cable Airport in Upland, which is the largest private airport in the United States.

By train
The national railway Amtrak serves many Inland Empire cities, including Ontario and San Bernardino.

The suburban commuter Metrolink system connects many Inland Empire cities with Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange Counties. Because it is a commuter train, weekend service is limited.

By car
Three east-west freeways link the Inland Empire with Los Angeles to the west. Interstate 10, the main route, connects downtown Los Angeles with San Bernardino. Interstate 210 and State Route 210 connect Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley with San Bernardino and Redlands. State Route 60 connects downtown Los Angeles with downtown Riverside.

In addition, the almost always-congested State Route 91 freeway connects many Orange County Cities with Riverside. Two north-south freeways also traverse the region. Interstate 15 connects San Diego to Las Vegas via Corona and the western Inland Empire cities. Interstate 215 forms a loop through the eastern cities, from San Bernardino south to Riverside, Perris, and Murrieta.

By bus
Greyhound serves many Inland Empire cities.

Get around
The Inland Empire is incredibly car-dependent. However, there are still ways to enjoy the region without having a car if you are willing to be flexible and patient. Nonetheless, it is worth it to rent a car to save time and if you wish to visit more remote areas, such as the High Desert and the mountains.

By train
Metrolink, Southern California's commuter rail system, operates four lines that serve the Inland Empire. These are the San Bernardino Line, the Riverside Line, the 91 Line, and the Inland-Empire Orange County Line. Some lines, such as the Riverside Line, have no weekend service at all.

By car
Much of the Inland Empire is laid out in a grid-like pattern, making navigation very easy. In addition, streets maintain their names as they cross city boundaries, which helps reduce confusion.

Because many Inland Empire residents commute towards Los Angeles and Orange counties for work, westbound traffic is heaviest in the morning (between 7 and 9AM) and eastbound is heaviest in the evening (between 4 and 7PM). Friday traffic can be a nightmare, especially on long weekends, as many Southern California residents flock to Las Vegas. However, some simple day-planning can help you avoid driving on freeways during rush hour and will make your experience more enjoyable.

By bicycle
Although mountains sit nearby, much of the Inland Empire is flat enough to encourage bicycle riding. Many major thoroughfares have marked bike lanes, and numerous projects are converting abandoned rail lines to paved bike trails. Although bike use is low compared to other urbanized areas, rising gas prices are resulting in more and more cyclists using the bike lanes throughout the area. Local politicians are slowly but surely becoming aware of this and there are at least token promises for more bike infrastructure to come in the future.

Eat
The Inland Empire hosts a large diverse immigrant population and is home to a multitude of ethnic cuisines, ranging from Persian to Peruvian. Also, because much of the region developed after World War II, excellent diner-style establishments are found in almost every city.

Stay safe
Throughout the years, for a variety of social and economic reasons, parts of the Inland Empire have become home to dozens of gangs and a haven for at-home drug operations. Residents often jokingly refer to Moreno Valley as "Murder Valley," for example. Increased outreach and tougher anti-drug operations have made some progress, but there are still some areas in many cities that should be avoided, especially at night.

Not all low-income areas are crime-ridden and drug-infested. In fact, many low-income neighborhoods are often host to the best and oldest restaurants in the area. Use a combination of street smarts, do your research, and know your area when choosing a destination.

San Bernardino County is broken up into many different smaller cities and towns with their own unique way of enforcing the laws. For example, in the city of Loma Linda smoking a cigarette and walking down a public sidewalk will get you a ticketed fine, but in the city of Redlands no big deal. The markings from where one city begins and another ends aren't easily spotted.

title: Inland Empire


text:
Inland Fujian

Inland Fujian is an area of Fujian Province in China; in Chinese it is sometimes referred to as mǐnxī (闽西), West Fujian. The province's main cities are along the coast; the inland region is mainly mountains and agricultural areas.

Cities
The region's three prefectures each have an anchoring city with population in the 2.5 to 3 million range.

Other destinations

 * — a scenic area famous for its tea, with mountains, rivers and historic buildings
 * — a UNESCO Global Geo park near Sanming
 * — fascinating, centuries-old earth buildings located in Yongding County and Nanjing County

Get in
Wuyishan Airport

Get around
Getting around within this area is generally done by bus.

A fast train line from Putian in coastal Fujian to Nanning in Jiangxi province (Fujian's neighbour on the inland side) is now in service; it passes through this region and is faster than buses.

Go next
The area is well-connected to other parts of Fujian (Southern Coast (Fujian) or Northern Coast (Fujian)), in particular to the major cities Xiamen and Fuzhou. From some areas, it is also possible to head further inland (West) into Jiangxi province, South into Guangdong or North to Zhejiang.

title: Inland Fujian


text:
Inle Lake

Inle Lake is a shallow lake in the middle of Myanmar, southeast of Mandalay. The lake is 22 km long, and is densely inhabited by many different tribes.

Climate
Due to its higher altitude, temperatures around the lake tend to be cooler than in Mandalay. Winter temperatures often fall below 10°C at night so make sure you are prepared for that.

By plane
The closest airport is in Heho, about 45 minutes away by taxi from the main town by Lake Nyaungshwe (walk down the road towards the main highway to negotiate a better rate). Taking a taxi from the airport can be quite expensive, at around 25,000 kyat. Most people share a taxi with 3 people. A good way to save money is to book a taxi in advance with your guesthouse for about 15,000 kyat.

There are winter and summer rates for flights through all major airlines in the country.

By bus
Buses depart daily from Yangon and take about 13 hours. Buses take 10 hours from Mandalay. Air conditioned buses from Bagan take 9 hours with JJ express and cost US$11-20 (2 hours from Kalaw) and operate day and night. The journey is a little bumpy although there are frequent stops including for lunch. From Bago 13,000 kyat, 14hr. Bring warmer clothing on the bus as air-con temperatures can get low. If you are looking to sleep, earplugs are a good idea as music will be playing on the video screen in front of the bus.

By pick-up (line-ka)
A very cheap option from Taunggyi is a pick-up (1 hour and around 600 kyat). Pickup trucks will leave from the main market.

By train
The next train station is Shwenyaung station, from where Lake Inle can be reached by bus, pick-up or taxi.

Get around
You can walk around town easily or rent a bicycle for about 1,500 kyat per day, which you also use to tour the surroundings.

Inle lake
There is a 15,000 Kyat (as of January 2019) entry fee per person to the lake, charged by the government. This fee is often collected at the bus or at the airport when you arrive. The ticket is not checked once you have passed the checkpoint.

A boat trip on the lake is a must do. Most of the trips will visit a few workshops selling local souvenirs, like teak objects, paper, silver and lotus silk fabrics. You can tell your boat driver that you don't want to visit any of them if you are not interested in these shops. However, learning about the local small-scale industries and arts is certainly worth it. Informative guided tours are provided by the shops for free. Bring cash if you consider buying souvenirs.

Upon the canal to the open lake you may see people in traditional clothes standing on one leg in their boat and posing with a fishing basket, presenting then dead caught fish and will finally ask for tips. Full day trip takes about 7 hours and costs 15,000-20,000 kyat, driver will go wherever you tell them to, but remember that he is not a guide nor does he necessarily speak English. Any guesthouse or travel agency can arrange this trip for you. You may have a better experience by chartering a boat directly, clearly agreeing on the planned stops, and starting very early in the morning before most other tour boats, and also allowing you to arrive at market while it's busy. As of 2015, locals claim that the floating market doesn't exist any more due to too many tourists.

For solo travelers in low season, it might be hard to find others to join. So, walk around the jetty and the bridge. Most boats depart between 08:00-11:00.

Please do not photograph people when they are showering or washing plates. Common stops and things to do:
 * The lotus silk fabrics are unique to Inle lake, and can be quite expensive.
 * The lotus silk fabrics are unique to Inle lake, and can be quite expensive.

Buy
Remember to bargain, Inle Lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar. Prices will routinely be double what locals would pay. Products that appear old are fake (such as opium weight sets) and many goods being offered by shops are cheap products made for the tourist trade.

Eat

 * Try the freshly made Shan tofu salads at the Market. You will see women preparing these meals to go (or to eat from tiny plastic stools) in the market area. Other local spots are located across from the market where you can get good Shan noodle soups, tea leaf salads, etc., for around US$1.25.
 * Try the freshly made Shan tofu salads at the Market. You will see women preparing these meals to go (or to eat from tiny plastic stools) in the market area. Other local spots are located across from the market where you can get good Shan noodle soups, tea leaf salads, etc., for around US$1.25.
 * Try the freshly made Shan tofu salads at the Market. You will see women preparing these meals to go (or to eat from tiny plastic stools) in the market area. Other local spots are located across from the market where you can get good Shan noodle soups, tea leaf salads, etc., for around US$1.25.
 * Try the freshly made Shan tofu salads at the Market. You will see women preparing these meals to go (or to eat from tiny plastic stools) in the market area. Other local spots are located across from the market where you can get good Shan noodle soups, tea leaf salads, etc., for around US$1.25.
 * Try the freshly made Shan tofu salads at the Market. You will see women preparing these meals to go (or to eat from tiny plastic stools) in the market area. Other local spots are located across from the market where you can get good Shan noodle soups, tea leaf salads, etc., for around US$1.25.

Go next

 * Heho - the nearest airport
 * Kalaw - take a memorable (and slow) train ride from Shwenyaung station (#131 or #143). The train leaves at 08:00 and takes approximately 4 hr. Great scenery and rural life. (1,200 kyat Upper Class) or go by bus. Better to take motor bike to Shwenyaung (20 mins for 2,500 kyats) and there just wait on main road for some minibus direct to Kalaw, 2,400 kyat (Apr 2019)
 * Meiktila - attractive lakeside town
 * Thazi - take a memorable slow train journey from nearby Shwenyaung station on your way back to Mandalay.
 * Bagan - home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world, many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.(times/prices below as of May 2017)
 * 09:30 minivan (11,000 kyat)
 * 19:30 express bus (ordinary class), arrival 04:30 (11,000 kyat)
 * 20:30 VIP bus, arrival 05:30 (17,000 kyat)

title: Inle Lake


text:
Inner Eastern Thailand

Inner Eastern Thailand is a mountainous region in Thailand, close to the Cambodian border.

title: Inner Eastern Thailand


text:
Inner Hebrides

The Inner Hebrides are those islands of the Hebrides lying close to the mainland of Western Scotland. If you have a notion to see "the Highlands and Islands", without being more specific, what you're looking for is somewhere in the Inner Hebrides. But you shouldn’t plan to visit many of them on a single trip, let alone try to bag them all. Transport routes radiate out from the mainland, with limited inter-island links, so you’d end up spending a lot of time waiting on draughty jetties or in Glasgow airport transit lounge. And the main charm of the islands is their relaxed, away-from-it-all feel – they’re not places for frenetic sight-seeing and hurrying on to the next attraction. So you need to pick your island, or group of islands for those that do naturally link. All of them are described in detail on their own pages, and general advice on air and ferry transport is described in Scotland. This page gives a brief overview to guide that choice and itinerary. The islands are considered below not in geographical groups, but in order of potential for visitors: accommodation and food, things to do and see, and convenience of getting there. This is inevitably subjective but if for a first visit you choose an island near the top of the list, and get around to the others on future trips, you won't go wrong. Or if you find yourself charmed by one particular spot, returning whenever you can and never mind the others, that’s equally good.

Understand
The Inner Hebrides are a large, scattered archipelago; what they have in common is their rugged, thinly populated terrain. Their land was always too poor for anything beyond subsistence farming, eked out with fishing. In the 19th century the population was systematically (and sometimes violently) evicted from their small farms by the landlords, and the land turned over to sheep-grazing and deer-stalking - the “Highland Clearances” still bewailed in local oral history. Later redevelopment schemes came to little; but in the 20th century tourism developed as transport and island accommodation improved. Gaelic culture and language did survive, though if you hear it spoken, it may just be a college lecturer from Wisconsin showing off.

A long weekend will do fine for any of the islands. Cross your fingers for the weather: when it’s good it’s glorious, when it’s poor it’s misery. Summer brings tourists and clouds of midges – think twice about camping if you react badly to bites. Winters are very quiet, and many facilities shut down when the clocks go back in October. At any time of year but especially October through to March you need to consider how you'd fare if your homeward ferry or flight was cancelled by bad weather.

The main islands
For a first-time visit, the choice is between Skye (with Raasay), Mull (with Iona), Islay (with Jura) and Tiree (with Coll). These islands are large, with little or no public transport, and you need a car. Their "satellite" islands are easily visited as side-trips.

 * (Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or Eilean a' Cheò) must stand first because of its spectacular mountain scenery, things to do and see, places to eat, drink and sleep, and accessibility. There’s no air service but it’s linked by toll-free bridge to the mainland, with buses and trains from Glasgow, and there’s also a ferry between Mallaig and Armadale. This makes Skye very touristy and crowded in summer, but it is a wonderful place, weather permitting. Portree is the main settlement.

 * If you’re driving to the Outer Hebrides, you probably need to travel via Skye and factor in an overnight stay. Then from Uig you take the ferry either to Tarbert for Harris and Lewis, or to Lochmaddy for the Uists. Skye is also the base for visiting the small island of Raasay (Gaelic: Ratharsair).

 * (Muile) is scenic, and its main settlement of Tobermory is picture-perfect. The island scores highly on things to do and see, and places to eat, drink and sleep. It’s reached by a 45-minute ferry ride from Oban to Craignure; there’s no air service. The main attractions are in and around Tobermory, plus Duart Castle near Craignure. Mull is seldom crowded.

 * Iona (Ì Chaluim Chille) is reached via Mull: you drive across to Fionnphort and leave the car there, taking the short ferry to Iona and walking to the abbey. Boat trips also run from Mull to Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, to the Treshnish Islands, and to Ulva. Short ferry rides link Craignure with Lochaline on the Morvern peninsula, and Tobermory with Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan, alternative routes back towards Oban and Glasgow.

 * (Ìle) is scenic round its coastline (the interior is a soggy heath), and has lots to do, see and especially to drink: it has an impressive number of whisky distilleries. It has flights from Glasgow, and ferries from Kennacraig in Argyll to Port Ellen on the east of the island and to Port Askaig on the north (some continuing to Colonsay); both take around two hours.

 * (Diùra) is reached via Islay, by the short ferry crossing from Port Askaig. Jura is big but bleak.

 * (Tiriodh) has different scenery, being sandy and low-lying. So it’s more fertile and has a strong cultural history for its small size, and the stiff breezes deter the midges. It has flights from Glasgow and a four-hour ferry crossing from Oban. Two days a week there's a flight to Colonsay.

 * (Cola) is more rugged and thinly populated. The ferry takes three hours from Oban, continuing to Tiree; there's also a flight connecting Coll to Tiree and Oban. So these two islands can easily be combined, though there isn’t a link every day.

Smaller islands
These have far less in the way of facilities and sights, and you might not need a car, or indeed be allowed to bring one.

 * (Colbhasa) is a small but charming island reached by a 2 hr 30 min ferry ride from Oban, or twice a week from Kennacraig via Port Askaig on Islay (3 hr 30 min). There's also a flight from Oban via Islay two days a week. At low tide, walk across the strand from Colonsay to the tidal island of Oronsay. Many visitors bring a car, but you can explore without one.
 * The Small Isles consist of, Eigg, Muck and Canna. They're usually admired from a distance, forming the dramatic view looking south from Skye. They have very limited accommodation and most visitors come on day trips, sailing from Mallaig (about 90 mins) or Arisaig. You're not allowed to bring a car to these islands, which only have about a mile of road each.
 * (Lios Mòr) has medieval ruins but is almost undeveloped for tourism. A day-trip from Oban will suffice.
 * Seil, Luing, Easdale and Scarba are even smaller islands south of Oban, and Kerrara is just west. Think of these as individual farmsteads and holiday cottages that happen to be separated from the mainland by a short boat ride; in fact Seil is connected by a road bridge. Beyond Scarba lies the roaring maelstrom of the Corryvreckan.
 * (Giogha) away to the south is just a 15-minute ferry ride from the Kintyre peninsula. You’d probably visit as part of a tour of Argyll, leaving your car at the mainland pier and walking round the island. The main sights are Achamore Gardens and the Ogham Stone.
 * Smaller still and smaller: the islands and coasts are fractal, so whatever you focus on, some even smaller place swims into view. Focus on Mull and you notice Ulva, and then the short channel separating it from Gometra, off which are . . . and so on. What they have in common is that they're uninhabited with no ferry, and they're protected as reserves for seabirds and other wildlife and habitat. So they're not "destinations", but summer boat-trips may visit them.

Beyond the Inner Hebrides
Several other major Scottish island groups are not part of the Inner Hebrides – they’re described on other pages. Chief of these are:

 * The Outer Hebrides: Harris and Lewis are a single large island. Eriskay, North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist are effectively one island, being linked by road. Then Barra lies to the south. These are much barer and bleaker than the Inner Hebrides, with fewer sights and facilities. They can easily be combined with a visit to Skye, because a common access route is to drive across Skye and take the ferry from Uig.
 * Northern Isles are the Orkney and Shetland Islands. They're quite different from the Hebrides and from each other, being Norse not Gaelic, with many well-preserved prehistoric remains. They're low-lying, treeless and breezy, with lots of amenities and sights.
 * Firth of Clyde islands are Arran (the most charming),  Bute, and  Great Cumbrae. Pleasant, accessible, all can be done as day-trips from the Glasgow area, but that means they'll feel busy and touristy if you've just come from the Hebrides.
 * St Kilda is not the name of an island, but a lonely archipelago miles out in the Atlantic. Hirta the largest is where you land to see the abandoned village. It's only visited on occasional boat trips, weather and sea conditions permitting.
 * Knoydart is the "mainland island", the last populated region of Great Britain to have no road connection to the rest of the country. It's possible to hike there over the moors, but usually you take the ferry from Mallaig to the main village of Inverie.

By plane
There are daily Loganair flights from Glasgow to Islay and Tiree. A tiny plane links Oban with Coll, Tiree and Colonsay, but baggage limits are restrictive, and Oban has no passenger air connection to the global network.

By rail
There are no rail bridges to the islands. The mainland terminals are at Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig for Skye (and Small Isles from Mallaig) and at Oban for Mull, Coll, Tiree and Colonsay. Kyle of Lochalsh has trains from Inverness, and Oban has trains from Glasgow Queen Street. From London you usually change in Glasgow, but the Highland Sleeper from Euston has a portion for Inverness and another for Fort William, change for Mallaig.

By boat
Calmac ferries sail from Kennacraig to Islay, from Mallaig to Skye and the Small Isles, and from Oban to Mull, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and the Outer Hebrides.

Or sail your own yacht or motor-boat there.

By road
You can drive all the way to Skye on A87, which crosses on a toll-free bridge. Buses from Glasgow follow that route, running 2 or 3 times a day to Portree (7 hours) and Uig the ferry port for the Outer Hebrides. Another scenic route is to leave A82 at Fort William and follow A830 ("The Road to the Isles") via Glenfinnan and Arisaig to Mallaig, for the ferry to Armadale.

For Oban, leave A82 at Tyndrum and follow A85 west. For Kennacraig, leave A82 at Arrochar on Loch Lomond, and follow A83 west then south.

Get around
You need a car on Skye, Mull, Islay and Jura; you probably need one on Tiree, Coll and Colonsay. These are large islands, with lonely miles, summer downpours, and midges, midges, midges. The few buses are either linking to incoming ferries, or for school run; so there's only one or two per day, not convenient for sight-seeing.

Walking or bicycle will do fine for the smaller isles.

See

 * Duart Castle is near Mull's ferry port Craignure.
 * Dunvegan Castle on Skye is in an impressive coastal setting. Several more lie in ruins.
 * Kinloch Castle on Rùm is a huge Victorian country mansion. You can only admire it from outside, as it's fallen into disrepair.
 * Best of the Hebridean scenery is along the Trotternish Peninsula on Skye.
 * There are good birdwatching opportunities on the RSPB reserves on Mull, Islay and Coll.

Do

 * Plenty of good beaches, notably those on Tiree and Islay. Their west coasts are exposed to the Atlantic and good for windsurfing.
 * Walking: and you can make full circuit of the smaller islands.
 * Golf courses are on the sandy "machair" terrain of the larger islands.
 * Bars in the larger settlements have live music, and village halls have occasional ceilidhs.
 * Skye and Mull have Highland Games in summer, with much tartanry and bagpipe-blowing.

Eat

 * Eating places, like accommodation, are individually run - there are almost no chain restaurants.
 * In many places the hotel may be the only place to eat in the evening, with last orders as early as 8PM.
 * The seafood including shellfish is often locally sourced.
 * Some good cheeses are made on Mull.
 * For self-catering fill up the car with supplies (and fuel) before leaving the mainland. All the islands have small stores, and there are Co-op supermarkets on Mull, Skye and Tiree.

Drink
Islay is ringed by whisky distilleries, producing peaty single malts. Laphroaig has the strongest peat taste, much appreciated by connoisseurs but maybe not the best for beginners.

Jura has a single distillery, producing a variety of single malts, some peated.

Mull has a distillery in Tobermory. Its whisky is sold as Ledaig (peaty) or Tobermory (smoother) brands.

On Skye there is the Talisker distillery at Carbost.

Small artisan gin distilleries are here and there.

There are breweries on Skye and Colonsay.

Stay safe
Island folk are friendly and honest, but what about the visitors? - those ruffians you took care not to sit near on the ferry, for instance? Take usual care of valuables.

The hills are of no great height, but you're on the same latitude as Newfoundland. Even midwinter is seldom subzero, but driving winds and rain can quickly drop your body temperature.

Go next
It's a choice of continuing west out to sea to the Outer Hebrides, or returning to the mainland.

title: Inner Hebrides


text:
Inner Mongolia

Inner Mongolia (Mandarin: 内蒙古, Nèi Měnggǔ; Mongolian:, Övör Mongol), officially known as Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region in northern China and is the main home of China's ethnic Mongol population. The region surrounds much of Mongolia to the south and a small portion of the region borders Russia to the north.

Cities

 * - the largest city in the region and the main entry point for the traveller. It serves as the capital of the region and is often dubbed as the "Dairy Capital" of China.
 * - on the Yellow River (Huang He)
 * - the location of Arshihaty Stone Forest in the Hexigten UNESCO Global Geopark
 * - Dongsheng is the home of cashmere sweaters produced in the Erdos Grasslands
 * - border town on the Trans-Siberian railway
 * - in the North
 * - northern gateway to Russia
 * - on the Yellow River

Other destinations

 * or Lake Hulin (Dalai nuur) - One of the five largest freshwater lakes in China, covering approximately 2,339 km². A popular summer tourist area.
 * or Lake Hulin (Dalai nuur) - One of the five largest freshwater lakes in China, covering approximately 2,339 km². A popular summer tourist area.

Politics and government
Inner Mongolia is officially known as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is one of five autonomous regions within the People's Republic of China.

Under Chinese law, autonomous regions are entitled to more rights and privileges — such as implementing their own economic policies, and declaring additional official languages — but they have no legal right to secede.

Name transcriptions

 * Mandarin: 内蒙古自治区, Nèi Měnggǔ Zìzhìqū
 * Mongolian:, Öbür mongüol-un öbertegen zasaqu orun

History
Inner Mongolia is a large region stretched across the northern edge of China. It has a relatively low population density the majority of which are Han Chinese. About 17% of the population is ethnic Mongolian. The region is officially an Autonomous Region for the Mongolian people within China. The east of Inner Mongolia consists of wide grass meadowlands, forests, and mountains. The west of the region is made up of scorching hot deserts. Traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyles can still be seen in the region and gers (Mongolian tents) are not an uncommon sight in the wide spaces between the cities. Even though ethnic Mongols form a minority in the region, the number of ethnic Mongols holding Chinese citizenship is almost twice the population of the independent country of Mongolia.

The main religion in the area practiced by the Mongol minority is Vajrayana Buddhism, similar to that found in Tibet, Bhutan and the Republic of Mongolia. Lama temples are common throughout the region.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) (酒泉卫星发射中心) is in Inner Mongolia and is the site of most of China's rocket launches. It is in a remote area and not open to the public. (The city of Jiuquan lies over 100 km away in the neighboring province of Gansu.)

Throughout much of the 2000s, the region saw the highest economic growth in all of China.

People
There is great diversity in Inner Mongolia and the region is home to multiple ethnic groups, with Mongols and Han Chinese being the largest ethnic groups in the region.

Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group in the region and make up 79% of the population in the region. When the autonomous region was established in the 1940s, Han Chinese made up 80-85% of the population.

Mongols are the second largest ethnic group in the region and make up 18% of the population. Since 1990, the Mongol population has been on the rise.

Evenks are mainly concentrated in the eastern part of the province, near the Russian border, and speak a language that is distantly related to Manchu. They are the only ethnic group in China that traditionally herds reindeer for a living.

Unlike the Tibetans and Uyghurs, the Mongols by and large have peaceful relations with the Han Chinese, and separatist sentiments are almost non-existent. Inter-ethnic marriages in the region are very common. Nevertheless, the ethnic Mongols are fiercely protective of their cultural identity and traditions.

Talk
Mongolian is co-official with Mandarin in Inner Mongolia.

There are different dialects of both spoken throughout the region. The north east of the province speak with a Dongbei accent that is very similar to standard Mandarin Chinese. Central areas speak the Jin dialect of Chinese. The two dialects are mutually unintelligible. The official dialect of Mongolian is Chahar and is distinct from the dialect used in independent Mongolia, though still largely mutually intelligible. The Mongolian language and population is primarily located in the northern and border regions of the province with the neighboring Republic of Mongolia to the north. Most ethnic Mongols are bilingual in Mongolian and Mandarin. Writing on signs, menus and other documents is usually bilingual in Mongolian and Chinese.

The ethnic Mongols here use the traditional Mongolian script to write their language, and the Cyrillic alphabet that is used in independent Mongolia is nearly unknown. The script is unusual in that it is written from top to bottom.

By plane
There are nine public airports in Inner Mongolia. Most only receive domestic flights so requiring foreign visitors to transfer at one of the major cities of China before reaching Inner Mongolia. There are international flights form Hohhot to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia run by MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

Other airports are Baotou Airport, Chifeng Airport  , Hailar Dongshan Airport  , Manzhouli Airport  , Tongliao Airport  , Ulanhot Airport  , Wuhai Airport  , Xilinhot Airport.

By train
Many cities of Inner Mongolia are connected to the Chinese rail network giving access to the region from neighbouring provinces. The Trans-Mongolian railway connects from Beijing via Datong in Shanxi province to the city of Jining in Inner Mongolia and north through Erenhot, in north central Inner Mongolia, to Ulaanbaatar in Outer Mongolia and onwards to Siberia in Russia. The north Eastern end of Inner Mongolia is traversed by rail routes connecting Russian Siberia to Harbin in Heilongjiang Province and through to the Russian Far East.

Get around
The central area of Inner Mongolia is connected to a rail route that spans form Liaoning and Jilin provinces through Tongliao city in the east of Inner Mongolia, on across the Trans-Mongolian railway at Jining (Inner Mongolia), to Hohhot. Then the line runs westward again until Wuhai city where the route exits Inner Mongolia, running just south of the border in the neighbouring provinces before turning north again and terminating in Ejin Qi in Western Inner Mongolia. Several branches run off of this to other cities. The north east of Inner Mongolia is not connected directly to the other cities of Inner Mongolia but is crossed by railways originating in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.

The international airport in Hohhot has connections to the other eight airports in Inner Mongolia. All Inner Mongolian airports also connect to Beijing. Thus it is possible to travel from one end of the region to the other by air. However, the frequency of flights to these small airports is low.

See

 * Wudangzhao Monastery - northeast of Baotou.
 * Dazhao Temple - In Hohhot
 * Xilituzhao Palace - In Hohhot.
 * Zhaojun Tomb - beside the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot.
 * Wanbu Huayanjin Pagoda - In Hohhot.
 * Xiaozhao Temple (also called Chongfu temple) - In Hohhot.
 * Five-towers Temple (Wuta Si) - In Hohhot.
 * Qingzhen Da Si Mosque - In Hohhot.
 * Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物馆 Nèiměnggǔ Bówùguǎn) - The museum has over 44,000 items and is particularly noted for its dinosaur collection. In Hohhot.
 * Mausoleum of Genghis Khan (成吉思汗陵 Chéngjísīhán Líng) - Located within Ordos Prefecture. This isn't the real site of Genghis Khan's burial, but rather a shrine in his memory.
 * Xilamuren Grassland - 90 km (about 56 miles) north of Hohhot.
 * Gegentala Grassland - in Siziwang Banner, 145 km north of Hohhot.
 * Huitengxile Grassland - 135 km east of Hohhot, and 80 km from the city of Jining.
 * Bashang Grasslands - On the regions southern border near to Beijing.
 * Badain Jaran Desert (巴丹吉林沙漠 Bādān Jílín Shāmò) - Western Inner Mongolia and extending into neighbouring Gansu and Ningxia provinces.
 * Tengger Desert (腾格里沙漠 Tēnggélǐ Shāmò) - Bordering with Ningxia Province.
 * Kubuqi Desert - South of the Yellow river near to Baotou.
 * Hexigten National Geopark - This is a UNESCO designated Geopark. It contains eight scenic areas: Arshihaty granite forest area, Qingshan granite mortar area, Dali Nur volcanic land form area, Huanggangliang Quaternary glacial vestige area, Reshuitang thermal spring area, Pingdingshan scenic Quaternary cirque group area, Xilamulun River valley area and Hunshandak sand land area. The geopark covers an area of 1750 km2. See Chifeng.
 * Arxan National Geopark - South west of the Greater Hinggan Mountains in Xiang'an League.
 * Alxa Desert National Geopark - In Alxa League (also known as Alashan League) of Western Inner Mongolia.

Do

 * Scenic Grasslands - Definitely plan on visiting a scenic grassland near Hohhot, Baotou, Erenhot, Ulanhot or Hailar where visitors may go for the Mongolian Experience, such as horseback riding, attending folk singing and dancing, and tasting roast whole lamb.
 * Nadam Festival - Wrestling, horse racing and archery are the three traditional sports for Nadam (meaning entertainment or frolicking), the foremost traditional festival for Mongol nomads taking place in July or August.
 * Mongol Homestay - Trying an authentic Mongol homestay, staying in a yurt in the grasslands. "Staying in a yurt" can mean almost anything in Inner Mongolia but if you do some research you will probably manage to find a nice one.

Buy
Inner Mongolia is known for its Mongolian carpets, a tradition shared with their counterparts in independent Mongolia. The city of Baotou has been a major trade hub for Mongolian carpets for centuries, having been a gathering spot for carpet weavers from the surrounding rural areas to sell their wares.

Eat
Traditional Mongolian food is found throughout Inner Mongolia. This is typically high in dairy produce such as milk, yoghurt and cheese. The traditional Mongolian milk tea is exceptionally good. Meats, especially lamb, form most meals. The meat is usually roasted with a coating of spices to give a strong distinctive flavour. As in many other areas of China, hotpot is a popular style of cooking. Mongolian hotpot usually has a well flavoured soup but without the hot spices of central China.

Drink
Mongolian milk tea is distinctive to this region and frequently served in hotels along with breakfast. Some brands of Mongolian bottle water are known for their purity or special mineral content.

Stay safe
Inner Mongolia, by and large, is a safe place. You're unlikely to face any major dangers.

Stay healthy
There have been reports of isolated cases of  bubonic plague in Inner Mongolia. Here are some advice for prevention:
 * Stay clear from marmot holes to prevent flea bites.
 * Do not contact, skin or cook possible sick or dead wild animals.
 * Use insect repellent containing DEET to prevent flea bites.
 * Keep fleas off of your pets by applying flea control products. If your pet becomes sick, seek care from a veterinarian as soon as possible.
 * Do not allow stray dogs or cats that roam free in endemic areas to sleep on your bed.
 * Stay clear from possible patients, as bubonic plague can transmit through air.
 * If you have sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, and weakness and one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes (also known as buboes), visit your nearest local hospital. Plague is curable if discovered early.

Respect
Although Inner Mongolia has a lot in common with Mongolia, don't treat Inner Mongolia as a part of Mongolia; it can be rude to do that, and expressing such views may be interpreted as having separatist connotations and could land you into trouble.

When dealing with ethnic Mongols, try to refer to the various respect tips in the Mongolia article.

Go next
It is possible to travel to the Republic of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia) and Russia from here by road or rail. There are good connections into the southern neighbouring provinces of China.

title: Inner Mongolia