OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Pak Bara

Pak Bara is a city on the southern Andaman coast of Thailand. It primarily serves as a transport hub for tourists.

## Understand

Pak Bara is the main ferry hub for Ko Lipe, with ferries running all year. The reality is that it's a crappy little town.

## Get in

Pak Bara is 237 km south of Krabi, 59 km from Satun, 123 km from Trang, 124 km from Hat Yai (the nearest train station).

### By boat

Boats run to Ko Bulon, Ko Lipe (two hours), Ko Tarutao (30 min).

### By bus

Minibuses run to the closest cities, including Hat Yai (2 hr), Trang (2 hr), and Krabi (4 hr).

## Get around

Travellers come to Pak Bara for one reason: its ferry port. Admission to the pier just to look around will cost you 20 baht (good for five days). There is no ferry ticket office at the pier. All tickets are sold by vendors in the vicinity of the pier. Just walking around near the pier ensures that you will be approached by a ticket-seller. Every agency sells tickets for the same price. There is an additional small charge (around 40 baht) just to enter the pier. Previously slow ferries ran to the islands, but they have been entirely replaced by expensive speedboats. The following times are indicative only. Speedboat services run mostly in the morning.

### Speedboat to/from Ko Lipe

* Departures from Pak Bara at 11.30, 15:30. Travel time, 90 min. Fare approximately 650 baht one-way, 1,200 baht return (open)

### Speedboat to/from Ko Tarutao

* Departures from Pak Bara at 11:30. Travel time, 30 min. Fare is 600 baht one-way.

### Speedboat to/from Ko Bulone

* Departure from Pak Bara at 12:30. Travel time, 1 hr. Fare is 600 baht one-way, 800 baht return.
When you arrive back at the pier in Pak Bara, there will be minivans waiting to take travelers to onward destinations such as Trang, Krabi, Phuket, Hat Yai. Vans leave within 30-60 minutes of each boat's arrival in Pak Bara. A typical fare is 400 baht to Krabi.

## Buy

There are several ATMs in Pak Bara in the vicinity of the pier.

## Drink

Most travellers will arrive in Pak Bara after a lengthy bus trip and overnight until their ferry the next morning to an off-shore island. Fatigued, hungry, and thirsty, they will look for a place for a meal and possibly a beer. Too bad. There are next to no restaurants open in the evening near the ferry pier. The nearest are several hundred metres up the road to La Nguu. All of them are Muslim restaurants. They do not serve beer, nor do they permit you to bring beer purchased from the 7-Eleven that, mercifully, is near the pier. A better plan may be to stay in the larger town of La Nguu, 10 km distant, overnight and make your way to the ferry in the morning (first high-season speedboat is at 09:30).

## Sleep

* Happy House (One street up from the plaza in front of the pier. Signposted on main road). Adequate place to spend the night while waiting for a ferry. Clean. No services. Free Wi-Fi. 490 baht (high-season). (updated Feb 2016)

## Go next

* Ko Lipe
* Ko Tarutao
# Paksan

Paksan (ປາກຊັນ) is in Bolikhamsai Province, in Central Laos. It is not a particularly appealing town but has become a busy place (by Lao standards) due to the ever increasing traffic on Hwy 13.

## Get in

There are regular buses in both directions of Hwy 13, i.e., to Vientiane and Pakse (US$10, 10-15 hr depending on the bus) and everywhere in between. Buses going to Vietnam via the Cau Treo border crossing also pass through here. The most popular boarding place is in front of the market (on the other side of the bridge from the Paksan Hotel). Just flag anything down you like.
For buses to more local destinations, there's a bus terminal next to the market.

## See

There are a number of waterfalls to be seen in the Phou Khao Kuai National Park. One is Tad Xay, another Tad Leuk.

## Eat

Noodle soup and sometimes also a bit more variety in dishes can be found at and opposite the market and also on the east side of the bridge.

## Sleep

There are a few guesthouses around town, particularly at the east and west ends of town along Hwy 13. The following options are within a reasonable distance of the market and the main bus terminal.
* B.K. Guesthouse (about 500 m south of the crossing with the Paksan Hotel). Run by a very welcoming family. The daughter speaks some English, the mother speaks some French. The setting in the garden is very nice and the rooms are cosy, although a bit small and dark. US$5/room.. (updated Oct 2021)
* Paksan Hotel (on Hwy 13 next to the bridge). Nice clean rooms with TV, fan and optional air-con. Don't be put off by the soulless entrance hall. Double rooms from US$12..
# Pak Lay

Pak Lay is a city in Northern Laos.

## Understand

The first settlement in Laos after crossing the Thai-Lao border at Nam Hueng.

## Get in

There are two bus stations in town. Heading south: Vientiane 90,000 kip; Nam Hueng 35,000 kip. Heading north: Sayabouly and Luang Prabang

## Get around

Explore the town by foot or take tuk-tuk from the bus stations to centre.

## Do

A small market is located in the centre next to the football playground. BCEL Bank has an ATM and accepts international cards.

## Eat

* Bay First (Main road), ☏ +856 20 2067673. 07:00-23:00. Good Thai-Lao food. Friendly owner/chef with 15 years cooking experience in Bangkok.

## Drink

Places on the Mekong River with overlooking views.

## Sleep

* Duang Chai Phet Hotel (Main road next to the monument), ☏ +856 74 215050, +856 20 55778333. Clean, new rooms with air and fan options. 60,000+ kip (Feb 2012).
# Xikou

Xikou (溪口) is a sleepy town in Zhejiang, nestled in the mountains of eastern China. Its name, also pronounced Qikou, means "stream mouth" in Chinese, referring to the town's position on the broad Shan River.

## Understand

Xikou's claim to fame is that it's the hometown of Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo. Because of this, it is popular as a tourist destination domestically. Many Taiwanese also visit annually.

## Get in

There is a daily bus service from Shanghai or Hangzhou. More frequent mini-buses are available from Ningbo.

## Get around

You can get around the town by taking local three-wheeled bicycles rode by locals. The town itself is not so big and it's easy to take it all in by foot.
However, if you want to go further afield and explore the mountains you will need to find a minibus service. Most of these are marked in Chinese only.

## See

* Chiang Kai-shek's estate was the family house of Chiang before he fled to Taiwan in 1949. Taiwanese will find the pro-Mainland propaganda placed all around gaudy.
* Yantai salt shop (玉泰盐), established in 1871, used to the Chiangs' family business. It stands as an example of traditional Chinese private enterprise.
* Xuedou Temple is one of the great temples of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. It was almost burnt to the ground during the Cultural Revolution, but has since been substantially rebuilt.

## Go next

* About an hour's bus ride east is the East China Sea. On the coastline there are some ruined forts to explore, remnants of the centuries of war with Japanese pirates and local smugglers. These is also some fine seafood to be had.
* Surrounding mountains provide good hiking for day trips. Mount Dalei (or "Great Lightning") is the highest peak in the area, reaching 809 metres above sea level.
# Xidang

Xidang is a city in Northwestern Yunnan.

## Understand

Xidang is located in the Mekong river valley at the altitude of 2 300 m. As Feilaisi is getting more and more touristy, some people prefer staying in Xidang before starting the Yubeng trek.
There is an ¥80 entrance fee to go to Yubeng but if you just stay in Xidang you can return the ticket and get your money back on the way out.

## Get in

There is a local bus from Deqin to Xidang daily at 15:00 and from Xidang back to Deqin at 08:00. The bus takes you to Xidang village, not up to the hot springs, unless there are enough people going up. It's ¥15 from Deqin to Xidang, add ¥5–10 to go to the hot springs. Taking a minivan from Deqin is ¥150. It is also possible to hike down from Feilaisi.

## Get around

Walk. The people are extremely friendly and might offer you apples or a cup of butter tea.
You can also arrange a car to go to the hot springs where the Yubeng trek starts.

## See

There is a nice temple (Bajiu) down by the Mekong river with two large stupas and 108 small ones. From the temple you can walk down to a beach by the river and then back to the path over the cliffs. There are also ruins of an old tower. Or you can admire the mighty Mekong from a walking bridge.
Don't be fooled by the name of hot springs. There are no pool like springs but there are cottages with showers and the water comes from a hot spring. If the weather is cloudy, it is the only option to have a hot shower as the guesthouses use solar water heaters.

## Do

Hiking is pretty much the only option. You can hike to Mingyong (there is a path, don't walk the main road), Yubeng, a couple of viewing places (you can see Yubeng, holy waterfall and glacier lake from one spot) and Ninong.
Maybe you can help the locals working on their fields. Also a nice place to relax, enjoy the quiet and watch mountains, maybe read a book in the sunshine.

## Buy

Caterpillar fungus, matsutake and snow lotus.
The village has a few small shops to buy snacks, drinks and cigarettes but nothing fresh.

## Eat

The guesthouses serve food but there aren't any restaurants.

## Sleep

There are a few guest houses in the village and one at the hot springs.

## Go next

The public bus to Deqin leaves at 08:00 from the village or hire a minivan.
# Xieng Kok

Xieng Kok is a small village by the Mekong River in Luang Namtha Province in Northern Laos.

## Understand

New Laos Myanmar Friendship Bridge was opened between Laos and Myanmar in May 2015 and the village area is under heavy road construction works.

## Get in

By songthaew from Muang Sing or by rented motorcycle (preferably dirt bike) from Luang Namtha. There are also cargo boats running up and downstream on the Mekong.

## Sleep

* 20.8998100.64151 Xiangkok River Resort. Very basic bungalows with fan, mosquito net and en suite shower and squat toilet. Very nice views to Mekong river. There is also a Chinese-style restaurant with seems to be popular with locals. Prices for single dishes were not especially cheap (30.000 kip for rice with pork) but portions were large and overall food was delicious. Eating by group probably more affordable. No English spoken. 60,000 kip. (updated May 2015)

## Go next

Get back to Muang Sing. Also negotiable to charter a boat up or downstream on Mekong river, or get a passenger seat on a cargo boat. There is also a passable road during dry season by 4WD or dirt bike following Mekong down to Xieng Dao and from there all the way to National Road 3 (Huay Xai - Luang Namtha road). The road can be demanding for inexperienced driver due to steep descents and ascents and heavy erosion during rainy season but the scenery and the countryside with no marks of tourism will be your reward.
# Xidi

Xidi (西递; Xīdì​​) is a village in Anhui Province in China. Together with Hongcun, it is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as "Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui".

## Get in

Tourist buses from the bus terminal next to Huangshan North railway station stop at Xidi en route to Hongcun. In Xidi, the tourist information centre near the ticket office sells bus tickets and guides you to the bus stop when the bus is coming.
From the Huangshan bus station, there are minibuses to Hongcun, but for Xidi it may be necessary to transfer. Ask the drivers.
You can also get to Xidi by bus or taxi from Tunxi (taxi ¥150-180)

## Get around

Cars are not permitted on the old streets of the village, so walking is the only way to get around.

## See

Xidi is a nice old and charming village full of ancient buildings, narrow streets, and no cars. During the daytime many Chinese tourists groups are walking around but they are less common than they are in Hongcun. Besides tourists, you will see many art students painting pictures everywhere. During night is much more silent.
Admission to the village is ¥105, but the attractions inside are free. There are many entrances to the village, nearly all of which have someone to check your ticket, but tickets are only sold at the west entrance.

## Do

* Hu Wenguang Memorial Arch. This arch was built during the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644) in memory of Hu Wenguang, a Ming officer, and is one of Xidi's most iconic landmarks. Situated in the southwest of the village, the arch is decorated with stone carvings in the shapes of deer, cranes, tigers, lions and the Eight Immortals of Chinese legends. (updated Nov 2019)
* Da Fu Grand House, On the main street of Xidi Village. The Da Fu Grand House was built during the Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911). The doors of the main hall are carved with plum flower patterns and the windows with paper cuts in the Ming style. Nowadays, the house is used for local performances, such as Throwing Embroidered Ball from the boudoir. (updated Nov 2019)

## Eat

There are many small restaurants found within Xidi. Often you can walk into the kitchen and choose the ingredients of your dish. Tip: ask for the price when you order to avoid surprises after ordering the bill.

## Drink

* Rice Wine Brewery. Close to the entrance of the city (just 50 meters after entering the small streets) there is a rice wine brewery. There you can try different kinds of wine for free plus having a glass at the bar.

## Sleep

* Xidi Travel Lodge. Check-out: noon. Nice clean hotel directly at the entrance of the city. The breakfast is served in an old building. If you prefer western breakfast you can ask at the reception for it (surcharge ¥20 per person). ca. ¥500.

## Go next

Huangshan is one of China's most spectacular mountains.
The valley between Hongcun and Tachuan is colourful around late October and early November.
The area also has other small old villages that are quite pleasant, but far less crowded (and harder to get to) than Hongcun or Xidi.
# South (Bahia)

Southern Bahia is a region of the state of Bahia, in the Northeast of Brazil.

## Cities
### Dendê Coast

* -13.881445-38.9519481 Barra Grande — a fishing village has managed to preserve its unique charm and environment, with a very relaxed lifestyle and splendid beaches
* -13.6233-38.90642 Boipeba — an island surrounded by the ocean and the Inferno River estuary of rare natural beauty, home to a great variety of ecosystems
* -13.381667-38.9138893 Morro de São Paulo — a village in the northern tip of the Tinharé island with no paved streets or car traffic
* -13.598889-39.1069444 Nilo Peçanha — an agricultural town focused on cocoa, guarana, cloves, oil palm, black pepper and cassava, with some historical buildings
* -13.37-39.0727785 Valença — where you'll go to take the boat to Morro de São Paulo

### Cocoa Coast

* -14.788889-39.0488896 Ilhéus — a place of beautiful beaches and welcoming people, land of cocoa
* -14.785833-39.287 Itabuna — the birthplace of writer Jorge Amado , who describes it in some of his works
* -14.277778-38.9969448 Itacaré — an up-and-coming vacation spot with amazing beaches, surf, capoeira and plenty of culture

### Discovery Coast

* -16.490278-39.0759 Arraial d'Ajuda — a beach district of Porto Seguro
* -16.785278-39.15472210 Caraíva — a laid-back, isolated, rustic beach town
* -16.377778-39.5811 Eunápolis — an inland town of 114,000 people (2020)
* -16.45-39.06512 Porto Seguro — it has amazing beaches and preserved areas of Mata Atlântica, an original tropical jungle
* -16.590556-39.09583313 Trancoso — an historic city where Pedro Álvares Cabral's fleet landed in 1500 to take possession of Brazil on behalf of Portugal

### Whale Coast

* -17.731944-39.26583314 Caravelas — the nearest town to the Abrolhos Archipelago
* -17.038889-39.53083315 Itamaraju — home of the Monte Pascoal, the first land sighted by Pedro Álvares Cabral, seen by many as the first European to arrive in Brazil
* -17.535-39.74194416 Teixeira de Freitas — a commercial town of 160,000 serving the surrounding agricultural region

## Other destinations

* -17.97122-38.700281 Abrolhos — an uninhabited archipelago that is an excellent area for diving, and provides opportunities for bird- and whale-watching

## Get in

Porto Seguro Airport (BPS)
# South-central China

The Southern Central Region of China is largely an agricultural area, but it has some quite large cities and considerable industry as well. This area is generally poorer than the coastal provinces on the eastern and southern coasts and is the main source of migrant laborers for those provinces.

## Regions

* Anhui
* Hubei
* Hunan
* Jiangxi

## Cities

* 28.19874112.970871 Changsha, Hunan
* 27.95204109.591582 Fenghuang, Hunan - a beautiful historical city
* 31.86389117.280833 Hefei, Anhui
* 29.294167117.2036114 Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, a center of pottery
* 28.684167115.8872225 Nanchang, Jiangxi
* 30.587222114.2880566 Wuhan, Hubei
* 30.708333111.2802787 Yichang, Hubei

## Other destinations

* 31.042778109.5613891 Three Gorges , Cruise along the Yangtze River between Yichang and Chongqing
* 32.400833111.0038892 Wudang Mountains The birthplace of Tai chi
* 29.345556110.4666673 Wulingyuan Scenic Area nature reserve
* 29.0528110.4834 Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie
* 30.125118.1666675 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
* 28.951944118.0519446 Mount Sanqingshan National Park

## Get around

As elsewhere in China, there is an extensive rail network. Rail is the main means of inter-city travel for the Chinese themselves, and many visitors travel that way as well. The system now includes fast bullet trains on most major routes; unless your budget is very tight, these are the best way to go — fast, clean and comfortable.
All the major cities have airports with good domestic connections; some have international connections as well. See the individual city articles for details.
There is also an extensive highway network, much of it very good. Buses go almost anywhere, somewhat cheaper than the trains. See the China article for more. Driving yourself is also a possibility, but often problematic due to the dangerous driving habits and lack of law enforcement; see Driving in China.

## See

* The beautiful Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan
* Historic sites from the 1911 Wuchang Uprising in Wuhan

## Stay safe

As with most mainland China your only risk is being pick pocketed provided you use common sense. Driving can be very dangerous, in particular in places with mountainous roads and during heavy down pours. Some people recommend sitting at the back of the bus in case of a crash. On occasion foreigners are banned from minority regions (Tibetan) during political sensitive times without warning and you will be sent back and fined if you are discovered. More likely you will not even be able to buy a ticket. Check out beforehand if traveling into these areas to make sure they are open! (West Sichuan)
# South (Espírito Santo)

Southern Espírito Santo is a region of the state of Espírito Santo, in Southeast Brazil.

## Cities

* -20.848889-41.1127781 Cachoeiro de Itapemirim — offers great geological attractions and hiking
* -20.603889-41.1852 Castelo — surrounded by the crystalline rocks and rough terrain of the Serra da Mantiqueira and its peaks
* -21.010833-40.8338893 Itapemirim — squeezed between the mountains and the sea, its lush granite nature has become the highlight of adventure sports such as hang gliding, abseiling and trails
* -21.042778-40.8238894 Marataízes — the Falésias de Marataízes Natural Monument was created to protect the cliffs to the south of the town
# South (Santa Catarina)

Southern Santa Catarina is a region of the state of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil.

## Cities

From north to south:
* -28.24-48.671 Imbituba — known as the whale capital of Brazil, as it was home to major whaling ships until the mid-20th century
* -28.466944-49.0069442 Tubarão — renowned for spa tourism and its rural areas where you can spend pleasant hours in contact with nature
* -28.6775-49.3697223 Criciúma — its Festival of Ethnicities brings together all the ethnic traditions of the region
* -28.935-49.4858334 Araranguá — the resort of Morro dos Conventos, 10 km from the center, has a beach, dunes, caves and the mouth of the Araranguá River
* -29.103889-49.6288895 Sombrio — agricultural town near the lake of the same name

## Other destinations

* Ibiraquera Lagoon

## Understand

Sul Catarinense is the territory with the highest percentage of Italian descendants (~65%) with peaks of 100% in some localities and who arrived here at the end of the 19th century.
# South Aegean Islands

The South Aegean Islands are a region of Greece.

## Regions

* Cyclades
* Dodecanese

## Get around

Travel amongst the islands using the extensive Greek ferry network, many boats of which head to or from Athens (Piraeus) on the Greek mainland.
Renting a motorbike is certainly a pleasant way to see islands, but it is essential to deal with reputable rental firms only and to take special care that the rental agreement details beforehand any and all flaws, dents and scratches apparent on the machine rented.
# South (Brazil)

The South is the southernmost region of Brazil. Its attractions range from the historic Jesuit ruins of Missões to the excellent beaches of Santa Catarina and the unmissable Iguaçu Falls.

## States

* Paraná Distinctive araucaria trees, a diverse blend of cultures brought by a history of immigration, and the world-famous Iguaçu Falls.
* Santa Catarina Popular beaches and a huge Oktoberfest celebration in Blumenau.
* Rio Grande do Sul Brazil with a bit of Uruguayan and Argentinian flavor—gaúcho (South American cowboy) culture and chimarrão, as well as vineyards in the Serra Gaúcha.

## Cities

* -26.918889-49.0658331 Blumenau - a huge Oktoberfest is held here
* -25.429722-49.2719442 Curitiba
* -27.593281-48.5530473 Florianópolis
* -26.303889-48.8458334 Joinville
* -31.771944-52.3427785 Pelotas
* -30.032778-51.236 Porto Alegre
* -32.035-52.0988897 Rio Grande
* -28.547141-54.5505898 São Miguel das Missões
* Vila Velha

## Other destinations

* -25.695278-54.4366671 Iguaçu Falls
* -25.511667-48.3388892 Ilha do Mel
* Santa Catarina Island (Florianópolis) — between São Paulo and Porto Alegre, this island is one of the top travel destinations in south Brazil, with its 42 beaches and incredible landscape

## Understand

The South is the smallest of Brazilian regions, and also, economically speaking, one of the most developed. It borders Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. It also received most of the immigrants from Italy, Germany and other European countries such as Poland and Ukraine in the 19th century.